Waiting in the changing room behind locked door
like gladiators about to enter the arena
to do battle for the lanes,
powered by plum pudding.
Jockeying for position
like racehorses.
Adjusting goggles at the end
like knights setting visors between jousts.
Light glinting on the tiles of the pool
like sun on armour.
Afterwards, the changing room full of friendly chatter
as though there had been no competition before.
[Image from iStock]
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