The Underwater Waltz

a forerunner of old age
        this pacing
through a fluent
                   resistant substance
a deliberate
        evolutionary
regression
         in blue cooling light
                       I try
to walk straight
                   but my adversary
warps my gait
     invisibly
I am alone
          in a swimming pool
of genetic defects
                    skewed DNA
indissoluble
          mortality
Alzheimer-bait
 I bob with my head
above the surge
  these swirling tides
stir up
   with each slow-won length
I waltz on carefully
                     to one end
and turn
     to confront the way I came
ahead
     my watery partner is churning
in my wake
         I wait
                     know my strength
makes waves
   that will sway me
at last I advance
         and the gentler I go
the more perfect
         the dance

Brad Buchanan