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I'm not the lifeguard.

by Maria Francesca

"I'm drowning!", you shout,
and I throw you a life preserver.

you look it over calmly,
appreciatively,

and then turn back to me

and tell me
"I can't believe I fell into this lake -
how stupid was that?!"

and I tell you it's not important --
just grab the ring.

and you tell me
"I probably deserve this anyway."

I row out to you in my little boat
and tell you
"just give me your hand!"

and you say:
"I'll be cold if I get out --
I bet I could learn to breathe water
if I tried harder."

I grab onto your collar,
trying forcefully to save you
and you wriggle out of my grasp,
worried that I'll tear your new shirt

and I finally row back toward the shore.

"where are you going," you demand,
"can't you see I'm drowning?"

07/16/2009

Posted on 07/16/2009
Copyright © 2025 Maria Francesca

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Nicole D Gregory on 07/17/09 at 07:22 AM

Wow! This is solid. I came back a few times and read this... I felt like I read an ancient proverb. There is something very raw about this and very teaching - it really hit me very deeply on a psychological level. Really impressed. ~N

Posted by Mary Frances Spencer on 07/17/09 at 08:07 AM

I know this person! They swim in that pool where they must always be the drowning victim. MFS

Posted by Jon-Jacob F Deal on 07/18/09 at 06:57 AM

Ah, the lament of the White Knight; I know it well. Sometimes it's hard to stop playing that game. Really fantastic job of encapsulating the whole victim/rescuer dynamic, and so, so true. Well done.

Posted by Ken Harnisch on 07/21/09 at 12:57 PM

Oh Amen, Maria!...so many "swimmers" I want to show this too I can hardly count!

Posted by Chris Sorrenti on 07/23/09 at 04:03 PM

Excellent poem Maria. Surreal, but obviously with roots in reality. Well done!

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