Lifeguards Poems | Examples

The Local Swimming Pool

I passed the local swimming pool
And saw that what remained
Was lots of empty space because
The water had been drained.

Now, I am not a swimmer,
Though I walk by every morn,
Way too early for the crowds of folks
Where bathing suits are worn.

Yet I’m certain they enjoyed it,
Cooling off or doing laps,
While the children played or splashed
With “Marco Polo!” shouts, perhaps.

That’s all finished for the season
And the lifeguards, too, are gone,
Maybe to an indoor gym, where some
Aquatics still go on.

The Watermark

“The Watermark” 

Black halos fall at my feet 
like the Sun’s shadows kneeling 
on beds of imperfect pearls in salvage prayer 
scorching the past with its unspoken words
into a new day, the tattoos written sting

and you think,
you’re crazy 

bare footsteps like poetry belong to a body of work naked
pretending to walk water along the white Capricorn sand, 
no man is an island reading the Sky like it is the lover horizon,
dipping into the shallows reading their rippling waves
all breaking like prisoners escaping their water-mark tears

no lifeguards,
follow here

five fingers
five toes, alone - 
gone tropic speaking to the magnetic undertow
pulling you further and further in
the heart is a pounding Ocean, every day calling 

with its shining kintsugi grin, 
“leave the shore 

venture further out
venture further in”

shadowy selki 
like a black halo falling 
escaping the daft confinement
of a mad mortal world
into the baptismal brine of eternal dreams 

pulls in the horizon like a lover,
sheds their skin 


CandideDiderot. ‘25

Bone Beach

Great surfing you may not have guessed
can be found in the upper northwest.
In a full rubber suit
the great whites think looks cute,
the dawn patrol shreds the gnar best.

Seems the beaches were starting to groan;
the supports underneath were all blown.
But now that Ozempic
has come to Olympic,
it appears they will stand on their own.

Once fleshy, vivacious, with curves,
Bone Beach is now lacking in verve.
When whales get reported,
the lifeguards who sort it
have nothing but sinews and nerves.

How I long to see Baywatch again,
and the slow motion bounce for the win!
Although healthy is wise,
put some meat on those thighs
or those bones will protrude through your skin.

A Beach Scene

A Beach Scene
Ocean waves
Ocean breezes
Turquoise seas
Ninety degrees
Coconut trees
High tides
Swinging hammocks 
Sky Juice
Pink Sand
Tidal pools
Sea Shells
Conch Shells
Sand castles
Swimming
Snorkeling
Parasailing
Jet skis
Lifeguards
Summer tunes
8pm sunset
no other place 
on earth I would rather be !

Here's A Thought

Deep in thought, need release,
one can involve nighttime
and wish upon a star
cautious bout the answer
it falls right where you are.

Deep in thought, need release,
one can do dimensions
parallels are not square
left angles can twist things
you're still here, think you're there.

Deep in thought, need release,
one can affect mystics
such as the Tarot cards
know the sidelines they've placed
graveyards can be lifeguards.

Deep in thought, need release,
one can apply science
try cloning your A.I.
sure transforms not transplants
then check out your new guy.

In a World Gone Mad

This summer I lost all respect
for our modern youth.

Apparently they have been raised 
that the end justifies the means
and that individual responsibility
is a virtue of dubious value.

So when they wanted to get me fired
because I was the new boss
the old retired fart
who was going to make them accountable 
trained lifeguards
they lied.

Maybe thinking it didn’t matter
to their own sense of karma
they fabricated a narrative
of sexual harassment, maybe even assault
they obviously didn’t realize
matters to others.

But hey, what is youth
if not a time of youthful folly
and the chance to learn
your major life-lessons.

Maybe they did
maybe they didn’t but will,
but for me at least
it’s never too late
to learn to watch your back
in a world gone mad and rudderless.

(10/18/23)

Seaside Serenade

Wind and sea and waves and sun
   sand in toes as day is done
Seagulls glide, sandpipers run
   young dad splashes with his son

Breakers rise, translucent teal
   lifeguards poised as youngsters squeal
Seniors search for shells - they feel
   twelve again as sun rays heal

Sky on fire towards the west
   clouds in lustrous fashion dressed
Cosmic artistry - I'm blessed
   songs of peace swirl through my chest

Violins waft quietly 
  over swelling timpani
Saxophone soars soulfully
  bidding hearts to be set free

Blushing scarlet, clouds advance
  smell of salty foam enchants
Palm trees sway as in a trance
  recalls young love's first slow dance

Couples stroll, fingers entwined
  share a kiss if so inclined
Rising moon smiles as designed:
  gives the anxious peace of mind

Waves still warm from midday blaze
  surfers dance in sea-mist haze
Sailboats flee from stress-filled days
  springtime struts; summer sashays

written 23 June 2023

People Who Help Us

There are many people who help us, 
They help in many different ways, 
They help people of all ages, 
And people of all abilities. 

Farmers grow food for us, 
Carers help people who can’t manage on their own, 
Doctors and nurses help us stay healthy, 
Charities help people in different ways. 

Dentists help us look after our teeth, 
Police help us keep the world safe, 
Teachers help children to learn things, 
Firefighters help us put huge fires out.

Lollipop people help us cross the road, 
Post workers help us send letters to people far away, 
Lifeguards help beach visitors in trouble, 
Transport drivers help us get from one place to another. 

There are lots of other people who help us, 
We can help each other. 

21/08/21
Written for 65th Glasgow Girls’ Brigade Explorers section badge work session 2021/22

At Your Own Risk

They can’t get lifeguards for the lake
And everyone’s on summer break
And so, just for vacation’s sake,
It’s swim at your own risk.

For swimmers, there’s a lot at stake
And when their skin begins to bake,
It’s quite an easy choice to make,
Their water entry brisk.

Bravado is a breeze to fake
And confidence is hard to shake.
Let’s hope this choice is no mistake
Or we will hear tsk tsk.

Answering the Time Machine

Answering The Time Machine
David J Walker

It has its own peculiar ring 

Something like a summers day
Something like a mountain stream 

Something like a lilac bush 
Something like a quiet field

Something like a firefly
Something like a crying child 

Something like a shooting star
Something like a passing train

Something like a lifeguards whistle
Something like your mother’s voice

Something like a double feature 
Something like a kiss good night

Something like a summer sunset
Something like that last time 

that anything
Felt real

Red Flags

Red flags flying o'er the beach,
Warning of danger beneath gulf waves;
A seagull glides by with a screech.
Red flags flying o'er the beach,
Riptides pull you out of reach,
And lifeguards cannot always save.
Red flags flying o'er the beach,
Warning of danger beneath gulf waves.

8/14/19

Fleet Summer Storm

We sense a distant throb like drums of war,
Hear whistles, shrill, precede firm lifeguards’ cry,
“Get out!” as drops, way off, slant down and pour;
Look there!—chill, sudden gust, umbrellas fly,
Tense mothers rush, all eyes upon gray sky,
To youngsters trembling, safe from surf and sea;
Harsh cracking whip, white klieg bulb flashes high,
Then, snug and wrapped, with mothers, children flee,
Find autos’ shelter, beach deprived hot summer glee.



July 3, 2018
Summer Rain Storm (2) Spencerian Stanza Poetry Contest
Dale Gregory Cozart, Sponsor

The Beach

You walk along the sandy beach 
And you taste the salted air 
You step on very tiny shells 
As the wind blows through your hair
 
The ocean splashes on your feet 
As your baking in the sun 
You see a ship in the horizon 
And children having fun
 
Surfers surfing atop the waves
 And swimmers swim and float 
Beach balls and sand castles on the shore 
And fisherman in their boat
 
Lifeguards whistling at drifters at sea 
And whistles at girls from the boys 
Pigeons and seagulls and volleyball players
Creating some of the noise 

Umbrellas, blankets, and burning tanners 
And musclemen flexing their chests 
Swimsuits, short shorts, and girls in bikinis 
Showing off some of their breasts

Slip Sliding Away

What a beautiful day it was, with the waves crashing on the beach
The sunshine creating quite a buzz as for the next wave I now reach 
Riding it right up to the shore, but not quite to where I was before
For I had drifted a little bit more the ocean temptress being my lure

So as I swam back out I had to turn to see how much I had drifted
For in my mind I had doubt just as if my confidence had been sifted 
But there each time I turned were those flags to the left and the right
Stay in the middle I had learned so lifeguards can keep you in sight

And I needed to continually check, for you can drift so quick and fast
For if I just said who gives a heck, well out there I just would not last
That's what the Lord pointed out to me that no one is turning around
That many are adrift out at sea, many of whom may never be found

Turn around and look for Jesus' Face in Him you will never drift away
Our Salvation just one act of His Grace, but a million more each day
So just turn around and take a look at where you have now landed
All the devil stole being a crook, but the Lord, He won't leave you stranded

Slip Sliding Away

What a beautiful day it was, with the waves crashing on the beach
The sunshine creating quite a buzz as for the next wave I now reach 
Riding it right up to the shore, but not quite to where I was before
For I had drifted a little bit more the ocean temptress being my lure

So as I swam back out I had to turn to see how much I had drifted
For in my mind I had doubt just as if my confidence had been sifted 
But there each time I turned were those flag to the left and the right
Stay in the middle I had learned so lifeguards can keep you in sight

And I needed to continually check, for you can drift so quick and fast
For if I just said who gives a heck, well out there I just would not last
That's what the Lord pointed out to me that no one is turning around
That many are adrift out at sea, many of whom may never be found

Turn around and look for Jesus' Face in Him you will never drift away
Our Salvation just one act of His Grace, but a million more each day
So just turn around and take a look at where you have now landed
All the devil stole being a crook, but the Lord, He won't leave you stranded

• Short Lifeguards Poems
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