YOCHANA AND YOU IN BEDLAM PARK

A boy and girl going swimming in London in 1950s.

Through Bedlam Park
to the swimming pool
your towel and trunks
under your arm

the weather good
and Yochana said
she’d learn to swim
if it was the last thing

she did
and you went
to the locker room
and paid your coins

and got into your swimwear
and out into the pool
with the other bodies
getting wet and playing

and trying to swim
and Yochana came out
in her pink two piece
and stood

on the edge
of the pool
and you said
come on in

the waters cool
and as long
as some fool
don’t piss in it

it’s worth a go
she hesitated
standing there
arms in the air waving

flapping her hands
like some young bird
learning to fly
come on in

you said
but still
she stood there
on the edge

her blonde hair
held back
in a rubber band
what’s a matter?

you called
she closed her eyes
and kind of dived in
but more like

a fall sideways on
and you went to her
and helped lift her head
out of the water

and she was sputtering
and spitting out water
I christen you
Yochana the mermaid

you said and
she laughed
spitting out more water
get scared

she said
the thought of it
and she began to go
into swimming motions

putting arms in
and throwing them about
but she just sank
and you yanked her out  

and she stood there
water running down
her face into
her eyes

did I swim then?
she said
did I?
no you sank

you said
sank like a darn stone
can you show me?
she said

no I can’t swim myself
you said
well who can then?
she asked

go ask Ann
she can
or that plump woman
over there

she looks like
she can
you said
but she didn’t

she just walked
through the water
or made pretend motions
or sat down and tried

but no doing
but at least
she was laughing
and having fun

and you gave
the impression
of swimming
but it was all

just a game
and worth the coins
of getting in
and seeing

Yochana there
enjoying the water
and games
and water

in her hair
and ears
and eyes
and her hand

holding yours
if she felt
she was going under
or about to drown

and the water tasted
of god knows what
and the sky was blue
and the weather hot.