Jan Allison Poet Narrative

In Too Deep

I joined the Brownies when I was seven
Oh what fun I was in seventh heaven
Having fun and making new friends
But in the Brownies my life almost ends
We were doing badges -  this particular one was for swimming
I wasn’t a strong swimmer and was having lessons
We sat on edge of the baths in our costumes and hats
Then we had to swim along the side of the middle of the pool
To gain our badge we had to swim a width all the way across 
I’d only ever swum in the shallow end before
But everyone else was swimming across…
So I started off… got halfway across…
And then I got into trouble
Began to go under the water…
Down
Down
Down
I sank to the bottom of the pool
Two men dived in to save me
My parents were frantic 
They had been watching me ‘swim’
And were sitting upstairs on the balcony
Unfolding before their very eyes
Was their worse nightmare
Thankfully these two men saved my life
All I can remember was being rather ill at the side of the pool
As the water came gushing out of me
One memory I have is of being given chocolate buttons to eat on the way home
AND
I was awarded by Brownie badge – guess it was out of guilt 
I never did complete that width.
Now I am scared of deep water
If anyone asks me if I can swim…
I say ‘yes’… like a stone!


11~02~14
Contest: Near Death Or Near Life Experience
Sponsor: Anthony Slausen

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Liam Mcdaid November 3, 2014 at 7:37 AM quite the story jan excellent pen beautifully painted piece Jan Allison November 3, 2014 at 9:01 AM Thanks so much Liam:-) Hugs Jan x

Charmaine Chircop November 2, 2014 at 3:29 PM Ow gee what a terrible experience dear.I understand why you dont swim now dear..A deep real feeling in this. Jan Allison November 2, 2014 at 3:31 PM It is something I have never forgotten Charmaine:-( hugs jan xx

Cory Long November 2, 2014 at 10:39 AM nice job on this poem. I liked the tone you put into it. Good luck in the contest. Cory Jan Allison November 2, 2014 at 10:46 AM Many thanks Cory - sometimes its hard to remember the past but this poem just had to be written:-) Hugs Jan xx

Maurice Yvonne November 2, 2014 at 9:20 AM Great write, I hope this does really well in the contest. Just one thing Jan and I hope this does not hurt your feelings. You see stones skip really well but they can't swim at all. Jan Allison November 2, 2014 at 10:17 AM You are talking about small pebbles Maurice - I'm more like a lump of granite lol Hugs Jan xx

Jasmine Cruz November 2, 2014 at 8:12 AM I`m glad you were ok. I tend to get deep reading poems. I was on the edge with this one. Good luck in the contest Jan. Jan Allison November 2, 2014 at 10:15 AM Thanks Jasmine it was a long long time ago now but the memory is still always at the back of my mind and sadly I have never got over my fear of deep water:-( Hugs Jan xx

Dennis Rarick November 2, 2014 at 1:30 AM I love the structure.. Down Down Down Great effect Jan Allison November 2, 2014 at 2:14 AM Thanks Dennis - it is a long long time since it happened but I am still scared of deep water:-( Hugs Jan xxx

Shadow Hamilton November 2, 2014 at 1:08 AM what a terrifying experience Jan so lucky you survived a great poet would have been lost otherwise gl in contest hugs Jan Allison November 2, 2014 at 1:47 AM Aww thanks Shadow you have made my day with that lovely comment:-) I didn't start writing until this year - who knows what might have been if I'd written before lol Hugs Jan xx

Andrea Dietrich November 2, 2014 at 12:07 AM back stroke and doggy paddle work very well in deep! Jan Allison November 2, 2014 at 1:45 AM so I understand now - thanks Andrea:-) Hugs Jan xx

Andrea Dietrich November 2, 2014 at 12:06 AM wow, Jan, I don't even have anything like this I could do for that contest. You really pulled it off. So you can't swiim, huh? It took me a while to learn. I was so scared of the deep. Even now, I can't jump off a diving board into deep (well, I can do the low board, not the high one)> I am comfortable in deep water but have to be near the shallow in case I get tired!! Jan Allison November 2, 2014 at 1:45 AM The trouble was I was tired - took all my energy to swim along the side - I was only very tiny - wish I could get over the fear - I have tried but it's no good too many memories I guess:-( Hugs Jan x

Tim Smith November 1, 2014 at 9:23 PM excellent poem Jan....glad they were there to save you.....hugs Tim Jan Allison November 2, 2014 at 1:43 AM yes I guess it could have been a totally different story Tim:-) Hugs Jan xx

Eve Roper November 1, 2014 at 8:36 PM I like the shape of a little girl Jan. I also had the same experience and like you I swim like a stone to the bottom of the pool love and hugs eve Eve Roper November 2, 2014 at 8:29 AM You are so much like me when my youngest son was 5 he is now 31, I made arrangements for swimming lessons for both of us and like you the swimming instructor gave up on me when I go into the deep I'd sink. Jan Allison November 2, 2014 at 1:41 AM The shape. of the poem is pure co-incidence - I did have swimming lessons when we moved to the Island in 1996 but still can't go in deep water:-( Hugs Janx

James Marshall Goff November 1, 2014 at 7:33 PM Good story Jan....have similar memories...jimbo Jan Allison November 2, 2014 at 1:39 AM Thanks James:-) Hugs Jan x

John Matthews November 1, 2014 at 7:29 PM Thanks for your comments jan it means a lot John Matthews Jan Allison November 2, 2014 at 1:39 AM My pleasure John and thanks for dropping by:-) Hugs Jan x

Brenda Meier-Hans November 1, 2014 at 7:09 PM You poor girl. My sister also had an experience like that and is also afraid of water over her head. XOXO Jan Allison November 2, 2014 at 1:37 AM Its a terrifying thing to happen Brenda:-( Hugs Jan x