Since I was five I’ve been learning to swim

I don’t know if I’m trying too hard and losing momentum

like what often happens when I want so much for something to happen

i might have to sing underwater

because

like swimming and learning violin

my attempts to sing ‘seriously’ often failed

i wanted to sing champagne

when my voice is river water

i thought myself operatic

when plainsong, the elegant ease

of a Beatles song, more suited me

am I trying so hard to prove I’m strong and athletic, so adept at operatic scales

when Mersey mermaid scales are more my

trill?