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The One Who Survived

sudden
            cramp in both legs
      as I fought the rough sea...
  panic, calm, endurance; made it
                  to shore

---------------------------------------
            6th February, 2016
  Contest: The One Who Survived
         Sponsor: Sara Kendrick

This is a true event; happened when I was 18 or 19 years old. 
Imagine what it’s like to swim with legs that become heavy like 
lead, while at the back of your mind you know that the extra 
effort could bring cramp to your arms as well!!  
A ten minute distance became an eternity!

Copyright © Paul Callus | Year Posted 2016

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Red Fiery Date: 2/26/2016 3:09:00 AM The title of this poem brought me here...I really liked it ! Thank you for your kind words...I am more into writing romantic and sensuous poems...I have tried my luck by writing about the society too...( My poem prostitution and poverty is an example) I would like to know your views.....but i would still stick to romance Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/26/2016 8:09:00 AM Thank you for stopping by, S....I have been through several of your poems; your social ones are good, yet I believe you feel more at home writing sensual and romantic. [I noticed you had a keen fan some 4 yrs back:)] ~ Regards // paul

CayCay Jennings Date: 2/14/2016 8:54:00 AM Oh, my - palpable fear, yes - I feel it. Were you swimming for fun or survival when this happened to you? Ocean? Another gem ... CayCay Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/14/2016 10:08:00 AM It was just for fun, swimming in the open sea. It was not too rough when I jumped in, but the weather does change without warning sometimes! Glad that you found this to your liking, apart from the 'palpable fear'. ~ Regards // paul

Eve Roper Date: 2/13/2016 3:53:00 PM Paul, I'm afraid of the water; that experience would really have kept me away ..congratulations on your placement in survivor contest!!!! Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/13/2016 4:46:00 PM Thank you for your honest personal comment and the congrats, Eve! I am not afraid of water, but I have learned to respect it! Hugs // paul

Sara Kendrick Date: 2/12/2016 5:23:00 PM Thank you for participating in my contest “The One Who Survives”..It was an honor to read your entry..Paul, thank you for stopping by my page and taking time to read my work and comment..Your encouragement is awesome..Sara Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/12/2016 5:50:00 PM It was a pleasure taking part, Sara, and it's also a pleasure to read your poetry...I am never disappointed:) ~ Warm regards, and have a lovely weekend. // paul

Jan Allison Date: 2/12/2016 8:50:00 AM dropping back with my congrats Paul:-) hugs Jan xx Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/12/2016 1:52:00 PM Always a pleasure to have you coming back, Jan:) Thank you...hugs // paul

Joyce Johnson Date: 2/12/2016 12:05:00 AM A wonderful survival story and I am sure you worked some prayers into those 10 minutes. Congratulations for everything. Love, Joyce Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/12/2016 1:55:00 PM Many thanks Joyce. I sure was in need of help from above, then!! Hope you have a lovely weekend. Take care. // paul

Poet Destroyer A Date: 2/11/2016 10:30:00 PM PAUL, Congratulations on your awesome win. XOX ~LINDA~ Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/12/2016 1:51:00 PM Thank you, Linda:) You never fail to turn up:) hugs // paul

Dr. Upma A. Sharma Date: 2/11/2016 10:06:00 PM Great effort Paul.. fighting life n death.. strong words n powerful write.. ah the win n the lovely pic.. big congrats ! Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/12/2016 1:50:00 PM Thank you, Upma! I am sure we all have some scary stories to recount! ~ Regards // paul

Janice Canerdy Date: 2/11/2016 5:11:00 PM Good job, Paul! Knowing it's autobiographical makes it all the more effective. Janice Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/12/2016 1:25:00 PM Hi Janice...I have been through a few tricky situations (such as being electrocuted!!) but as I commented below, I keep my guardian angel very busy:) Thank you for stopping by. ~ Regards // paul

Sandra Haight Date: 2/11/2016 1:57:00 PM Such a horror for you, Paul, and you are indeed a survivor as imaged in your powerful Cinquain. Congrats on your fine win. Sandra Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/11/2016 2:34:00 PM Yes, Sandra...lived to tell the tale:) Thank you for your pleasant feedback and congrats. Regards // paul

Elaine George Date: 2/11/2016 12:30:00 PM Many congrats on your win, dear Paul, with this excellent Cinquain. Elaine Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/11/2016 1:27:00 PM Thank you, Elaine:) Your top winning entry by far excelled mine! ~ Regards // paul

Nette Onclaud Date: 2/11/2016 12:16:00 PM paul, luck was on your side; well done!..huge congrats on your award!..huggs Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/11/2016 1:32:00 PM Yes, it was on my side; the thing is many times in life luck is on our side, and yet we don't even realize it! (mind you, I have a very attentive guardian angel:) Thank you and hugs ~~ paul

Beautiful Scars Date: 2/11/2016 12:15:00 PM Paul, congrats on your placement!! -luloo *smiles* :) Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/11/2016 1:20:00 PM Thank you, Laura:) You did quite well yourself!! ~ Regards // paul

Susan Gentry Date: 2/11/2016 12:13:00 PM Congratulations on your win! Well written. Glad you made it! Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/11/2016 1:22:00 PM Thank you, Susan; I am pleased to be here in person to tell the story, rather than somebody else! ~ Regards // paul

Lin Lane Date: 2/11/2016 10:16:00 AM That must've been quite scarry, Paul. Congratulations on your contest placement. Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/11/2016 1:13:00 PM I have dreamed about it, Lin, and it's been more scary in the dream than in reality. Thank you. Regards // paul

Andrea Dietrich Date: 2/10/2016 5:15:00 PM oh my, thinking of it happening in the arms as well. YIKES. Did you ever think to just lie on your back and let it pass? I always go to my backside. I think if I were in a situation in deep water, I would try to just lie on my back and flutter my hands lightly to keep myself from sinking! (would sure be hard to do in all that pain though) Loved your cinquain. Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/10/2016 5:59:00 PM That's exactly what I did, Andrea...I alternated between floating and swimming, but the rough sea was no help at all! ~ Thank you for commenting and liking:) // paul

Maurice Rigoler Date: 2/9/2016 9:40:00 AM I nearly drowned in my teens trying to save a friend I was teaching how to swim! It haunts me to this day. Ads for my Tit for Tat poem, it's just another example of my weird imagination. Thanks for the kind stop by. / M Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/9/2016 9:52:00 AM My friend drowned saving a young boy...the boy lived. Yours must have been an awful experience, Maurice! ~ You speak of imagination...don't we all suffer from its influence!:) ~ Regards // paul

Timothy Hicks Date: 2/7/2016 9:28:00 PM Yikes! That was a close call. I imagine a memory like that would stick with you. Drowning, to me, is one of the worst ways I could of think of dying. Glad you made it back!! Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/8/2016 2:54:00 PM I wouldn't choose drowning to die either....would rather pass away quietly in my sleep and wake up on the other bank of the river:) ~ Glad to have you posting again! ~ Regards // paul

Lindsay Laurie Date: 2/7/2016 6:16:00 PM G'day Paul ... a memory you will never forget Paul. Getting caught in a rip is very dangerous - Lindsay Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/8/2016 3:19:00 PM Unforgettable! wish I had somebody to give my legs a good massage afterwards:) ~ All the best // paul

Nette Onclaud Date: 2/7/2016 3:36:00 PM good to know you were calm and focused during this time.. splendid work expressed in few lines, paul.. huggs Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/7/2016 3:56:00 PM After any initial panic, I usually manage to keep my calm, Nette! I will not deny that in this case I was somewhat apprehensive! Making it safely to shore was a big relief. Thank you for the lovely comments. Hugs // paul

Len Gasun Date: 2/7/2016 6:56:00 AM A beautiful poem relating a traumatic experience my dear friend, Paul. This reminds me of my experience, too. The reason why I don't go swimming alone even if the swimming pool is just outside the building i live. Good luck in the contest. Hugs! love lots, Galeo Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/7/2016 12:07:00 PM I think it is wise not to go swimming alone; even if one is a good swimmer, you can never tell what might happen. Thank you for reading and liking, Leonora:) Hugs // paul

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 2/7/2016 5:21:00 AM - Terrible experience, Paul - Great written, good luck in the contest - I wish you a blessed weekend - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/7/2016 6:49:00 AM A blessed weekend to you too, Anne Lise:) Thank you for a welcome visit! Hugs // paul

Kp Nunez Date: 2/7/2016 2:38:00 AM A memorial for endurance! An encouraging write, Paul. Best of luck! hugs Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/7/2016 6:44:00 AM Good day, Kim:) Lovely to have you visiting and commenting favorably. ~ Regards & hugs // paul

Sandra Adams Date: 2/6/2016 10:06:00 PM thankfully this only happened to me in a swimming pool! The ocean is too big for me to ever venture out far in...fine writing, good luck in the contest :) Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/7/2016 6:02:00 AM Hi Sandra...it's not too bad in a swimming pool, but it can still be scary! Thank you for reading and liking:) ~ Regards // paul

Connie Marcum Wong Date: 2/6/2016 6:33:00 PM I had a similar experience, but only got a cramp in one leg and I am not that strong a swimmer. The riptide exhausted me and I almost didn't make it back. I won't ever do that again. Your wonderful poem brought it all back to me. Excellent! #7 Login to Reply Paul Callus Date: 2/7/2016 5:37:00 AM It's not a nice experience, I can assure you! I got cramp in one leg, exerted the other and in the space of half a min had cramp in both. The sea was too rough...I should not have gone in! Like you, I learnt to be more careful in future! Thank you for the 'excellent' comment and the high rating:) ~ Regards // paul

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