the last warm day
I had been going down
sleepy and broken for several days
trying not to crumble all the way, just stay
just wait, hold position and concentrate
but on the last warm day of the year?
the thought of missing out was the greater fear
I got ready to go for an evening ride
but at the last minute, it dawned on me-
swimming is the real prize,
and if I had any guts left I'd try it on for size
I put my bathing suit on and packed my towel
minutes later I was almost there
but spotted trouble on the bike path, I swear
I said to myself “this guy is going to hit me”
and he literally did just that
he was on a scooter riding no handed
suddenly veering hard to his left, I scrambled
but couldn't make it away in time
"woah buddy, you okay?"
he apologized, introduced himself
and we took a look at my bike
but no one hurt and no damage done,
so we laughed and called it a day
afterward it seemed even funnier to me
and I laughed out loud all the way
until I got to the beach, locked up my bike
picked a spot and set up camp fast
I didn't want to waste a moment since
dark clouds were gathering quite thickly
and the day's heat was dissipating
I had checked the weather rather quickly
and rain is not what I was anticipating
maybe twenty-five people in total on the beach
but no one else in the water when I arrived
only one woman went in just before me
she went out far to swim laps, not my thing
I don't like what deep dark water can bring
waded out until I was just above my waist
then fell backwards, saving only my face
I gave it a minute for my body to get acquainted
before I went under and let my head get painted
but once I was in, I felt so alive
this is it I thought, this is how you thrive
not by doing the bare minimum to survive
but by taking chances when chances come
if you fail too much, of course you can rest some
but otherwise just give it a try
anyway, the water was choppy, the wind was brisk
and I already described to you the sky
I splashed around like a dolphin at play
as happy as a dog when the dog gets its way
I stayed in for a while, but not too long
my body gets chilled easily
and it feels like something might go wrong
so I stayed within my limits
which just means I was being smart
back on the towel I tried to get low
the wind was too cold being wet, you know?
but soon it escalated to a unrelenting gust
and the beach looked like a storm of dust
everyone was leaving now, including myself
I didn't want my bike to get soaked
although that might have increased my adventure
and given me more to say, but anyway
I couldn't wait to tell everyone about this day
how funny it was to be hit by a scooter
and then go swimming in cold choppy water
and to feel like you did things perfectly right-
the one thing we all hope to feel
before the end of the night
~
2025