Classic Poem

Bathe where the water gushes from the spring;
Yea, all encumbering garments lay aside,
And naked in the sunlight leap and sing:
Poise, and then deep into the water glide.

O graceful swimmer, thou hast all my praise;
Thou dost not gasp upon the shallow verge,
Nor, in a frenzy, strike a thousand ways,
Fearing the head once dipped will ne'er emerge.

Now deep thou divest out of sight: anon
Thy laughing limbs upon the surface splash.
Now seemest thou to ride as doth a swan,
Now like a fish thou canst the water thrash.

Aye, gentle swimmer, yet if thou shouldst cease
From loving combat; shouldst thou bid the tide
To buoy thee up in an indulgent ease:
Sustain thee, void of energy, in pride;

Then corpse-like on the surface thou must float,
Or swifter than the unskilled swimmer drown.
The hog in water madly rends his throat,
Water gives smile for smile, and frown for frown.

What radiant health is thine, O splendid form!
Fair son of Aphrodite, child of mirth!
And O, around thee, what a chattering swarm
Of shivering waders, swimmers of no worth.

This water, that to thee is fount and life,
Delight, renewal, joy and liberty:
To them is furtive lure and loathèd strife,
That finds and leaves them neither bond nor free.