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Iowa Writes
JULIE CLAUS
Divers
Waiting in line for the low
board with arms crossed
across cold chests and chain link
shadows crisscrossing sunburned backs,
a school of boys marvels at the bravado of the high
diver. My son stands on the edge
watching a chain link of light
blue light tread water. He holds
his hands in a pyramid above his head.
High above him Icarus starts a suicide
dive. He rolls onto the balls of his toes
runs the full length at full
speed hits the end and he’s an X in the air Waiting in line for the low
board with arms crossed
across cold chests and chain link
shadows crisscrossing sunburned backs,
a school of boys marvels at the bravado of the high
diver. My son stands on the edge
watching a chain link of light
blue light tread water. He holds
his hands in a pyramid above his head.
High above him Icarus starts a suicide
dive. He rolls onto the balls of his toes
runs the full length at full
speed hits the end and he’s an X in the air arms and legs splayed open until he draws
knees and elbows to his chest, clenches
his fists in front of his face
and sinks like a little boy’s stomach. My son turns and flops belly down
beside me on the concrete. He slaps
his palms in hot puddles
mimicking the rhythm of the resounding
board. Then he rests one cheek flat
against the back of a suntanned hand and falls
asleep. Light catches the pale down
feathering up his spine and melting across his shoulder
blades. High above us
a white line wakes the watery sky. more |
About Iowa Writes
Since 2006, Iowa Writes has featured the work of Iowa-identified writers (whether they have Iowa roots or live here now) and work published by Iowa journals and publishers on The Daily Palette. Iowa Writes features poetry, fiction, or nonfiction twice a week on the Palette.
In November of 2008, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Iowa City, Iowa, the world's third City of Literature, making the community part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
Iowa City has joined Edinburgh, Scotland and Melbourne, Australia as UNESCO Cities of Literature.
Find out more about submitting by contacting iowa-writes@uiowa.edu
JULIE CLAUS Julie Claus had a vagabond childhood. The simple question, "Where are you from?" created panic in her soul because she attended eleven different elementary schools in seven states. Now the answer is clear. She's lived in Coralville, Iowa for twenty-two years. She wrote this poem at the Coralville pool. | 
