A foot in, too cold
be brave, don’t waiver
Both feet in, no haste needed
Stiff as a statue, shiveringly cold
Stay at the edge, waiver again.

A few steps, deeper yet
A toddler learning to walk
Spin around, relish the moment
Swishing and swelling your body
Further in, don’t waiver.

A splash, a flail
Legs and arms fly about
Stop, try again
Calmer now, no pounding heart
Adrenaline ebbing, body warm.

Looking back, breath caught
Another foot, circuit repeats
A statue, a flail
A spin, a pause
Adrenaline flowing, don’t waiver.