Wild Swimming

This summer I went swimming
This summer I might have drowned
But I held my breath, I kicked my feet
Moved my arms around
I moved my arms around

This summer I swam in the ocean
And I swam in a swimming pool
Salt my wounds, chlorined my eyes
I'm a self-destructive fool
Self-destructive fool

This summer I did the back stroke
And you know that that's not all
I did the breast stroke, the butterfly
And the old Australian crawl
The old Australian crawl

This summer I swam in a public place
And a reservoir to boot
At the latter I was informal
At the former I wore my suit
I wore my swimming suit

Oh, this summer I did swan dives
And jack-knives for you all
And once when you weren't looking
I did a cannon-ball
I did a cannon-ball

This summer I went swimming
This summer I might have drowned
But I held my breath, I kicked my feet
And moved my arms around
I moved my arms around

As a child we often swam in the rivers in Northumberland - Chollerford, Barrasford. My memory replays picnics and soggy sandwiches that were dropped in the peaty water; laugher and dams; sunshine and if we were good, crisps at the pub on the way home. This swim was different, still with my sister, but also her children, one of my children and her husband. We drove up the valley, along the River Coquet, on a slightly overcast day that kept hinting at the promise of sunshine. Ever optomistic we took along our picnic and the ubiquitous flask of tea. Tiptoeing our way through sheep droppings and bracken we found our very own sheep-nibbled lawn edging the lazy river. Never one to hang back, Martha was first in, closely followed by her uncle and cousins. I couldn't resist much longer and went for the juggular, straight in, no acclimatisation. Breath-numbingly cold, gasping for air as I struck out...and then, calm as I looked up the valley, water at nose level, pied wagtails bobbing their tails at the waters edge, the deep waters licking at my limbs in the silkiest caress. The nearest to contentment for a long time; the closest to complete abandonment of worry. There is something about water and its healing properties; to wash away, to refresh, to cleanse and invigorate.