Renee Veldman
Breaststroke
It is a dangerous thing to be a poisoned
young woman enamored with the water
and insatiated by competition. With
fluttering feet and paddling arms,
I felt my body gliding through the
saccharine chlorine rushing over
my curves. I felt the breadth of my
splash as I lunged off the block
and dove into the pool, powered
by strong thighs that also served
as an obstruction. In the name of
hydrodynamics, I cut my hair,
shaved my arms and back,
and fantasized a scalpel to
the stomach. I envied my
younger self and
dolphins for their
absence of breasts
and punished myself
for their presence.
While in the shower,
I imagined ripping off
a cutlet off my own fat,
frying it up, and serving
it to the other girls I
competed against.
I imagined their
bodies dragging
with the burden
that at present
tortured
mine.

Renee Veldman hails from Michigan but after recently graduating from Eckerd College has found herself living, working, writing, and playing in Alaska. She is an educator and has embraced the true Alaskan lifestyle by residing in a dry cabin with an outhouse and no running water. She spends her free time open water swimming, running, and sitting on her cabin floor with either an open notebook or paint supplies.