Ocean

Spilling onto sand

goggles down

toes touch water’s edge

cold greets us

as a new day dawns

sky vibrant

with possibility

Bravely we wade

first kick, first stroke

arm over arm

Mirrored lenses

reflect

steel grey water

ochre cliffs

Arm over arm

here comes the sun

pushing against the channel’s breadth

linear line of gold

In breath, out breath

breathing

to the rhythm of the sea

undulations

lifting us

like a mother’s arms

carefully, lowering us again

trusting

We gather

form a loose circle

drawn together

by invisible threads

close to cliffs end

A white-bellied sea eagle

watches on

Tread water

look around

smile at each other

how lucky are we

One by one we pull away

arms and legs moving more quickly now

as we head back to shore

Feel my breath

deliberately

as even as the oceans

calming influence

Pull off my wetsuit

while still in the shallows

run up the sand

There is an art to

dressing quickly

fingers unresponsive

feet submerged in buckets

of warm water

Bye, see you tomorrow

have a good day

scampering up the cliff trail

or walking briskly homewards

along the beach

still in shadow

yet to be touched by days glow

Left alone

I pause

turn to the ocean

linger quietly for a moment

smile

in gratitude

for my tribe

for the complex joy of ocean swimming