You’re So Ambitious for a Juvenile

My guardian angel wasn’t there to protect me
When my nose sucked in gobs of chlorinated water
My eyes stinging and my nostrils power snorting
Me floundering around in a whirl of delight
My sinuses flushed and lungs gasping for duty

No, he wasn’t there to see me do it
This first time feat for brave little me
I’d not considered the problem of no lifeguard on duty
Not that I didn’t know how to swim these days
Having just passed my Tadpole Class at Pālama Settlement

I could tread my way now around the deep ends of pools
Had no fear of drowning as all the boldest do
A little knowledge possibly a dangerous thing
Even if you don’t realize it at the time being
In hindsight I know I could have died right then

In the dawn’s early light that diving board
At the Hilo Hotel pool had beckoned me
As I wandered around before breakfast hungrily
Waiting for my parents to wake up and feed me
Their guidance not curtailing my freedom at present

I’d never jumped off one before but had seen it
And with a few tentative steps on the narrow board
Blood pumping through my ears like some roaring engine
I stood with my toes curling over the edge
Staring into an abyss I surely could conquer

A few easy bounces boosted my bravado
My heart pumped invincibility into my brain
I hit peak height and stuck out my arms
The way I’d seen the older kids do before they dove
And I launched myself up and out over the water

Now paddling to the side of the pool beaming
Knowing I’d made strides toward the Acapulco cliffs
I boosted myself onto the concrete apron
Saw the feet, legs, torso, and hard face of my father
Giving me his well recognized Korean laser glare