This is a very (very, very, very) light poem. It’s like raindrops in a sun shower. The words almost disappear before you’ve read them.

 

Every twelve hours
If we could

Sunrise and sunset
Dawn and dusk
Togs and towel

Midday and midnight
If you wish
High noon and high moon

Every twelve hours
If we could
High tide and low tide
(Or would they be the same?)

If not every twelve
At least twice a day

A dip in the morning
A dip in the evening
Or the arvo
If that works for you

A swim in the ocean
In a river, a creek
A dip in a pool
A pond, a lake, a dam
A bath if it comes to that
The nurse helping you in and out

Summer? Easy
Autumn. Likely
Winter?
Spring. Tempting

Sand and sea
Beach and buoy
Salt and spray

River banks and rips
If you’re game

Even on a still day
The sea is moving
Changing
Never as smooth as what we say
‘Like glass.’

When the wind comes
Catch a bus, a train, a tram
Catch a wave
Into shore

Every twelve hours
If we could

Ride a bike
Drive a car
Walk, jog, run

Into the water
the water
the water