Don’t go in

they said.

There are stingers

they said

and bull sharks

and, occasionally,

a lost crocodile.

Don’t go in,

they repeated

or you will die.

But, feeling rebellious,

I slipped off my shoes

crossed the gritty sand

and poked my brave brave toes

into the warm water.

Then, emboldened,

I crossed the road

and swam

in the hotel pool.

 

(Sally Murphy, 2014)