Wild
Written in the midst of pandemic restrictions in the UK, 2021.
I’ve never regretted going for a swim.
Even on the days I have almost talked myself out of it.
When the warm duvet clings to me like seaweed
When on the way the wind whispers
“It’s not too late to turn back”
When I’m stood on the edge
And shivering before I’ve even begun
Deep breath.
Feet clench.
And yet the second I am in it is all worth it.
Okay - 5 seconds after I am in it is all worth it.
Somehow every single time it still surprises me how cold it is.
My technique is
less Wim Hoff
More grunt like Warthog
Flail limbs underwater
’til I begin to warm up
When the cold hits you
it becomes impossible to think about anything else
And this year of all years, that is not nothing
Jessie is my swim buddy.
We both went every day through lockdown 2
We’ve carried on in tier 3
Even more in tier 4, at least
they can’t shut down the sea.
Jessie is hardcore.
Like proper puts her face in.
Like casually brings up doing a 5k race in conversation -
barista-trained she brings a thermos and spare mug for coffee after
- I think It’s honestly the greatest thing I’ve ever tasted.
I love how much I do not need to be the best at this
Each day the fact I'm in at all is an achievement.
And this year of all years, that is not nothing
Whether it’s wetsuit with the hands and feet,
or swimsuit with a beanie hat
A full-on-lap,
a there-and-back,
often not even that.
The codeword is stiff chewing gum
As in the texture that your muscles feel when it is time to get out.
Even in winter we’ve met fellow swimmers every time we’ve gone
Exchange a brief hello, an ooh it’s cold, or simply just The Nod
Realise how much this year we’ve bonded
through a shared sense of complaining
Whereas here the default setting becomes -
Isn’t this amazing?
Whether grimacing or grinning
You can see it in our eyes
Skin is pink and we are thinking
What a time to be alive.
This unavoidable reminder
of how incredible the body is
When I am on zoom later
I’ll remember to hold on to this
A dog-walker on the way home,
chuckles ‘rather you than me’
I Can’t help smiling to myself
and think ‘I rather do agree’
As the feeling teases back into my fingers,
Stood in the shower,
waffles and veggie sausages
heating up in the oven.
I am already looking forward to tomorrow -
And this year of all years, that is not nothing
Harry Baker
@harrybakerpoet // www.harrybaker.co