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I Came Out Sputtering
Forthy waves fooled me
Lulled me into believing there would be warmth
I plunged in.
My heart nearly stopped.
My body nearly frozen
In the depths of this dark uninhabited lake
What if I die? I wondered
Who will find me?
No one knew I was here.
I could get a cramp.
I came out sputtering.
The woods were nearly silent.
I saw a flicker of a leaf, and then another.
My teeth were chattering.
I put my head under a second time.
It felt warmer now.
Something slid past my buttocks.
A snake?
A turtle?
Do they bite?
A fish?
It seemed warmer.
I began slowly swimming.
A little algae was on my fingers.
I gently flicked it into the waters.
Which seemed lighter now.
The sun had arrived to watch.
I swam into a natural spring.
Not hot-tub warm, but warm.
Delightful.
It was as if I owned the lake
And the woods.
It was just me and God.
I felt better than I had in years.
Deciding at that second to swim
every morning at this time while I was here.
"No one swims at this time of year!" my friend called.
Breaking my meditative ponderings.
I waved. "I do!" I called.
He waved and walked back to the house.
Leaving me to my magical thoughts.
Copyright ©
Caren Krutsinger
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