the children

had gone home and adult

strokes synched up

the lifeguard tower watching

arms hit water

sun came through the south

facing window

and happiness was

a feeling like hot and cold are feelings

a two-year-old asleep

on the car ride home

no one was drowning

no one was going to drown

a fox stood in front of the window

looking in as we looked out

we who’d always been

jealous of each other

we lifted our arms, bending

in a single slow wave

the fox ran off

and we dissolved

back to the water