Morning Swim, Saint Malo
The water is never as cold as it looks.
If you think too much about the cold,
you’ll miss the chance to let it slap
your skin, push your body back and forth,
be legs, arms and chest in it – and eyes –
yes eyes – to see the expansiveness of sea,
sky, shore – all the human heads – not ducks –
heads like yours and mine – all bobbing –
with enough space – enough for everyone.
Oh, what it is to be in the water again!
Once you’re in, you’ll never want to leave.
You’ll ask yourself why we ever left.