SWWIM sustains and celebrates women poets by connecting creatives across generations and by curating a living archive of contemporary poetry, while solidifying Miami as a nexus for the literary arts.

The history of sea legs

Jim Crow. Jimmy Buffet. Jim Bean

crack

-corn

white waters

rafting

black and brown bodies

sink

mama never taught me how to swim

frivolous work

endeavor another day

Jimmy

paddles

in the deep end

laughing

-sans duress

laps round’ rope

me, I

keep on keeping on

questioning strokes

for bodies made to float


Michele Troutman is a Maryland native living in Boston. She is a proud Black woman. She is also a lover of science, coffee, fundamental rights, and her stout cat “Brady.” This is her debut.

Don't Wash

Sign