The Swimmer's Imagination

Too hot to cycle,
Too late for the gym,
My foot is injured,
So I'll go for a swim.

The lake is murky,
Can't see what's below
Even with goggles
It's still hard to know.

I am a bad swimmer-
By the bulkhead I stay,
To prevent my drowning
And keep trouble at bay.

The first four minutes
I am going so strong,
But by minute five
My groove is gone.

I've swallowed some water
And my lungs may explode,
My arms are heavy-
From dragging this load.

I switch to the breaststroke
To catch my breath.
Six minutes done;
Only fifty-four left.

I take a moment
To find where I am.
Way too far out
And here I can't stand.

Panic consumes me
And I feel trapped:
An unknown enemy
Has my legs enwrapped.

I turn and flail
The way that I came
Frightened and graceless-
My courage so lame.

The creature stays with me
For a few minutes more
Releasing it's grip
As I near the shore.

Scared it would follow
I keep swimming on,
Til reasonably sure
That it was gone.

Under the water
I am afraid to peek
Were the creature a snake
I would likely freak.

My mind is overactive
For the rest of the hour.
Twigs became demons
That had come to devour.

The water is poison
That I keep taking in
Burning my throat
And tingling my skin.

My eyes are affected
By the stinging too.
Tomorrow I will find
Something else to do!