A long time ago - when I was twenty-three
When I did something stupid for a bet -
Stupid - or courageous - and I now agree
It wasn't something I would soon forget.
Bet one hundred dollars on the beach at Coogee*
(A challenge I survived and don't regret)
That I couldn't swim to Wedding Cake Island**
And then swim back to stand upon dry land.

Challenge was accepted - I left the hot sand
And waded out into the bright blue brine
The first wave broke above me - like a reprimand -
With water mild this high summertime.
I waded out till I could no more stand
I had to do this (I did myself remind)
Now committed - I had to my honor save -
Either this - or find a watery grave.

The first of the breakers were now behind -
To fold upon themselves in bursting boom
And boil in whitest bubbles - the shore to find -
Hissing in a frothy lace of spume.
Swimming now in breaststroke (to be kind)
To stamina reserves, I would need soon
(Though I only had a mild to moderate swell -
And no rips or currents in the sea as well).

Out too far now - too far to turn back
Lifted up and over each new wave; -
The water now beneath me turning black -
I kept swimming - I swam myself to save -
My will was strong - my reserve would not crack -
(For it was true I had a point to prove)
Waves no longer breaking - just blue rills -
Swimming up and over watery hills.

I now saw Wedding Cake was getting close
And no more than an atoll in the sea
Still not tiring I was there - almost -
The flat rock was there waiting just for me.
So far I was now - so far from the coast -
How strange is life? And how strange destiny?
One hundred yards close - I looked around and then -
Saw matchbox cars and houses - and ants for men.

Waves broke round the rock and back from shore
Now lifting me upon a coral reef
Pyramids of water eight feet high or more
Dumping me upon this rocky shelf.
Looking at my hands - I was cut and sore
(This is where I almost come to grief)
And having now escaped certain death
Stood upon the Island - and caught my breath.

Now reef - black reef - black water underneath me
Fifty meters back toward the shore
And sixty feet of water now beneath me
The grazing on my palms - my hands cut raw
Into the salty brine, I now bled freely
Bled into the water - and bled some more -
Fighting fright within me - to swim this final arc -
Swimming back in mortal terror of a shark.

T'was forty-five minutes to swim out there
And fifteen only now - to get back in -
And for what? A crazy stupid dare -
(I lived to take that hundred bucks from him)
This feat (good reader) I make you now aware -
(It is certainly a devil of a swim).
Stupidity? Courage? Or just male pride?
Good reader - I leave it for you now to decide.




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