Another Swim

When we swam today
there was darkness growing
and thunder in the distance
Shivering we descended
the steps to the shore
We’ll be out of the wind
once we’re in the water
Da said with a smile
As always he was first
He waded in   then turned
and let himself without hesitation
sink backward into the bay
How is it   is it cold    I called
hip-deep now  bracing myself
before I too pushed
through the transition    a thrill
into ease
Not far I said  still thinking
of storm   Not today   the colors
of the surface were forest-
green with gray-blue flashes
and when I turned my gaze
away from shore   the bay stretched out
all silver with bits of light   We were
enjoying ourselves  swimming and speaking
of swimming   You have to relax to
swim   Da said   You have to let
the water take you   and we
rolled about in the energy
of the waves   staying in the cove
coming up once against rocks hidden
under the tide and
surprising us    how we’d drifted
inward
Then a few raindrops came
then more   Hurry hurry it’s time
to get out  I said—   but why
we were already wet  and the thunder
had dissolved
in the distance   and the raindrops were
bouncing up from the surface
splashing and shining