The world is outside my boat:
Tap-down, feather, square,
plunge the blade in the water,
drive with the heels—
A rhythm that cannot be broken.
The world is outside my boat:
Zone in, squeeze your core, don’t rush the slide,
strong finish,
set the boat—
Responsibility in the lineup.
The world is outside my boat:
Listen to your coxswain, keep the ratio, stay in time,
push harder,
deeper and deeper—
The pain is temporary.
The world is outside my boat:
No time to stress, no room to slip, no other thoughts are able to enter
a clear mind, a strong drive—
Release, center, finally,
a meditative rhythm.
Beatriz Lindemann is a sixteen-year-old writer who lives in Miami Beach, Florida. Her stories have been published across various literary platforms, from Girls Write the World to the Women’s Media Center. She is a varsity rower and hopes to study journalism, political science, or law at university. Her unorthodox upbringing, being raised by two gay dads, impacted her perception of the world and the power of writing.