ONE, TWO, THREE - IN!

                        Dawn.

                   At water's edge,

                   ankle-deep,

                   the swimmer hesitates,

                   drenched visually by the river.

                   Other swimmers

                   as far as he can see

                   frolic in water, splash themselves and drown.

                   He shivers in the shallows,

                   white feet barely covered,

                   pubic hairs stirred by the morning breeze.

                        Afternoon.

                   The water before him yawns,

                   preparing to accept his body;

                   alders behind him urge him on,

                   grey downy leaves brushing together,

                   the colour of dried river mud.

                        Dusk.

                   The bather stands like a stork,

                   dry at water's edge,

                   white hairs stirred in the evening breeze,

                   light vacillating.

                   His tired eyes light up:

                   he sees the rains of his youth flowing past.