'Things Are Going Swimmingly!'
a natatorial narrative
I had a request from some swimmers to write a poem about their activity and asked my daughter Aisling to create an illustration to accompany it.
This tale’s about two ladies – one called Meg, the other Fran;
Meg recently retired from work, Fran just became a gran.
Asked Meg, ‘Are we that age
Where we have reached the stage
In our lives when we should take up something new?
I’m quite ready for a challenge, Fran, and I’d like to ask – are you?’
‘Hmm… let me think,’ said Fran. ‘You mean, like doing something crazy?’
‘Not specifically,’ Meg said, ‘but we don’t want to be lazy
As we grow older, Fran,
So how about a plan
To keep active, so we’ll both stay trim and youthful?
And I’ve something in my mind, Fran, to be completely truthful…
By chance last week, I watched a local programme on TV
About some folk of our age who go swimming in the sea;
It looks a growing trend,
And did they recommend
The practice! – Every one of them agreeing
How swimming in the sea improved the state of their wellbeing!’
‘I’ve never swum a length,’ said Fran, ‘since I was just a child.’
‘Me neither,’ Meg replied, ‘now, I’m not thinking something wild -
Just going to the shore,
One mile beyond our door
To take a little dip twice weekly at our local beach,
No, not some big aquatic goal we’d likely overreach…
And sea air’s full of negative… oh, what’s that word? Yes – ions!’
‘I’ve heard of those,’ said Fran, ‘but won’t there be a few sea lions?
Now I can’t speak for you
But the thought of one or two
Things turn my legs to jelly – oh, Meg, how I truly wish
There really weren’t such frightful things as stinging jellyfish!’
‘Don’t pour cold water on it, Fran (excuse the awful pun),’
Said Meg. ‘Why don’t we try it once or twice? It might be fun!’
‘Okay, just me and you
In some place far from view,’
Said Fran, ‘but even leaving all those other things aside,
We’ll always need to check the high and low times of the tide.’
So Fran, despite initial signs of fear and hesitation,
Came round to going, not without some fear and trepidation –
‘Meg, are we both insane?
What if it starts to rain?
We might get soaked before we’ve even splashed into the surf,
And I still think those seals look fearsome, Meg, for what it’s worth!’
Well, surprisingly, from that first day, both ladies felt inclined
To swim twice weekly, for the good of body and of mind;
The puns just now get worse –
As Fran, no more averse
To swimming, really took to it just like a duck to water,
While all about its benefits to health she loved to natter!
She read up on the benefits to muscles, mind and heart,
As her knowledge of its value she was eager to impart:
‘It strengthens up biceps,
The same goes for triceps!
Why, think of all the good effects it has on our trapezius,
Not mentioning what it does, of course, for our gluteus maximus!
Now of course there were occasions when they had those little blips,
Like being bobbed about some, by the wake of passing ships,
And jellyfish indeed,
Disguised as fresh seaweed!
But Meg ensured they always came equipped with what protects,
Though Fran said, ‘Can’t get used to goggles, Meg – I miss my specs!’
One morning when they reached the shore, they found it was a hub
Of bouncing, brisk activity – the local swimming club
Arrived in force that day,
And were so keen to say
They’d love to welcome new folk. Fran responded with great zeal;
Meg whispered, ‘Think you’re smitten by its organiser, Neal!’
So, they joined the local swimmers and, in just a little while,
Fran was striving to impress Neal with her confidence and style;
Then one day after eight,
The pair arrived quite late:
‘Neal, with some folk, are heading to the rock, well in our depth,’
One lady said. ‘The rest of us will swim the harbour breadth!’
So, thinking he’d already started, Fran just rushed headlong
Into the waves with gusto – surely nothing could go wrong!
‘The group is widely spread –
But think that’s him, ahead!’
She grinned, when suddenly Meg shouted, ‘Fran – I’m here, with Neal!
You should’ve gone to Specsavers – you’re swimming with a seal!’
© Robert E. Wilson.
Illustration by Aisling Wilson.
a natatorial narrative
I had a request from some swimmers to write a poem about their activity and asked my daughter Aisling to create an illustration to accompany it.
This tale’s about two ladies – one called Meg, the other Fran;
Meg recently retired from work, Fran just became a gran.
Asked Meg, ‘Are we that age
Where we have reached the stage
In our lives when we should take up something new?
I’m quite ready for a challenge, Fran, and I’d like to ask – are you?’
‘Hmm… let me think,’ said Fran. ‘You mean, like doing something crazy?’
‘Not specifically,’ Meg said, ‘but we don’t want to be lazy
As we grow older, Fran,
So how about a plan
To keep active, so we’ll both stay trim and youthful?
And I’ve something in my mind, Fran, to be completely truthful…
By chance last week, I watched a local programme on TV
About some folk of our age who go swimming in the sea;
It looks a growing trend,
And did they recommend
The practice! – Every one of them agreeing
How swimming in the sea improved the state of their wellbeing!’
‘I’ve never swum a length,’ said Fran, ‘since I was just a child.’
‘Me neither,’ Meg replied, ‘now, I’m not thinking something wild -
Just going to the shore,
One mile beyond our door
To take a little dip twice weekly at our local beach,
No, not some big aquatic goal we’d likely overreach…
And sea air’s full of negative… oh, what’s that word? Yes – ions!’
‘I’ve heard of those,’ said Fran, ‘but won’t there be a few sea lions?
Now I can’t speak for you
But the thought of one or two
Things turn my legs to jelly – oh, Meg, how I truly wish
There really weren’t such frightful things as stinging jellyfish!’
‘Don’t pour cold water on it, Fran (excuse the awful pun),’
Said Meg. ‘Why don’t we try it once or twice? It might be fun!’
‘Okay, just me and you
In some place far from view,’
Said Fran, ‘but even leaving all those other things aside,
We’ll always need to check the high and low times of the tide.’
So Fran, despite initial signs of fear and hesitation,
Came round to going, not without some fear and trepidation –
‘Meg, are we both insane?
What if it starts to rain?
We might get soaked before we’ve even splashed into the surf,
And I still think those seals look fearsome, Meg, for what it’s worth!’
Well, surprisingly, from that first day, both ladies felt inclined
To swim twice weekly, for the good of body and of mind;
The puns just now get worse –
As Fran, no more averse
To swimming, really took to it just like a duck to water,
While all about its benefits to health she loved to natter!
She read up on the benefits to muscles, mind and heart,
As her knowledge of its value she was eager to impart:
‘It strengthens up biceps,
The same goes for triceps!
Why, think of all the good effects it has on our trapezius,
Not mentioning what it does, of course, for our gluteus maximus!
Now of course there were occasions when they had those little blips,
Like being bobbed about some, by the wake of passing ships,
And jellyfish indeed,
Disguised as fresh seaweed!
But Meg ensured they always came equipped with what protects,
Though Fran said, ‘Can’t get used to goggles, Meg – I miss my specs!’
One morning when they reached the shore, they found it was a hub
Of bouncing, brisk activity – the local swimming club
Arrived in force that day,
And were so keen to say
They’d love to welcome new folk. Fran responded with great zeal;
Meg whispered, ‘Think you’re smitten by its organiser, Neal!’
So, they joined the local swimmers and, in just a little while,
Fran was striving to impress Neal with her confidence and style;
Then one day after eight,
The pair arrived quite late:
‘Neal, with some folk, are heading to the rock, well in our depth,’
One lady said. ‘The rest of us will swim the harbour breadth!’
So, thinking he’d already started, Fran just rushed headlong
Into the waves with gusto – surely nothing could go wrong!
‘The group is widely spread –
But think that’s him, ahead!’
She grinned, when suddenly Meg shouted, ‘Fran – I’m here, with Neal!
You should’ve gone to Specsavers – you’re swimming with a seal!’
© Robert E. Wilson.
Illustration by Aisling Wilson.