PEOPLE INCORPORATED PEOPLE INCORPORATED

8 people incorporated
pools
not quite tall enough to touch the bottom of the pool, i learned to swim
gail harbeck
as a little girl. i recall how good it felt; alone in cooling water, feeling
support, feeling comfort; the soothing craved by a young body, a young soul.
learning to dog paddle—moving beyond the fear of dying. and wishing, too, that
life on land could be like that. not quite tall enough to touch the bottom of the pool,
i wanted to be safe. • i recall my suspicious delight when aunt ev cheered me on as
i swam around the pool. she marveled at my fishiness, (mom and dad indifferent,
wanting to criticize, stinking in their pool of negativity). i recall i doubted ev’s
sincerity as she stood in the grass, the sun shining hot, hands first to her cheeks and
then to her thighs on printed dress. “goodness you swim so well.” not quite tall
enough to touch the bottom of the pool, i couldn’t believe her. • now miles
from indifference and with years of healing truth, i recall her beside that pool;
her sweet face sunburned, her eyes like water, her truth, her love, her
welcoming pool of support. tears curl around my smile and i believe
her. learning to live—moving beyond the fear of dying—i
walk lovingly on land as she did.tall enough to touch
the bottom of the pool, i am safe now.
Gail Harbeck is a People Incorporated client, and a writer and artist with the People Incorporated Artability art show.
Artwork: June Orr, #3