Learning to Swim

Ellen stretches, sprawled out on the floor
her legs up in the air
then her arms
swimming above my carpet
demonstrating the strength
that can be mine
if I want it.
She doesn’t care that Rob is at the table
mumbling about his latest chapter
and occasionally calling out
for me to take him to the parking lot
where I have promised I will smack him
if he keeps it up.
She doesn’t care that Cheryl is tapping
away with lesbians
claiming to be thin and pretty,
and not slow of mind
but fast on the keyboard.
Why would she care?
Ellen is a lesbian too,
and today she shows me how to swim
while everyone is around,
without a care in the world.