Boys in the Pool

In June, I brought the boys to a pool.

In descending age,
Two were happy to get in.
One sat forlornly on the steps.
One refused to enter even to ankles.
And one sobbed hysterically if he touched water.
It was unpleasant.

So what a surprise today to find three children
Transformed.

The two happy poolers were still happy.

But the forlorn now bopped around happily,
Both with a pool noodle and without.

The refuser not only sat right down on the step
Although he had intended to do nothing but
Dip his feet, but he gradually, over an hour or two,
Went in to waist, then neck, until he was blowing
Bubbles, and going underwater. Unheard of.

And as for the hysterical sobber? He didn’t let out a peep,
But sat in my arms, with water up to his chest or his neck,
And occasionally bent his face and came up sputtering,
As he does in the bathtub in an inch of water,
Testing, perhaps, whether underwater breathing is a
Developmental ability that he just needs to grow into,
Or maybe simply enjoying the feel of water on the face
And the choking that comes from not being able to breathe.
He sat until he was blue-lipped, but he still did not cry,

Enjoying a day at the pool.