A happy Gulf Cup recipient and an ode to swimming

Heaven or Hell

By Steve Atkins

Tri Takapuna in twenty eleven

Fine run and bike, swim hell not heaven

Five hundred metres, close to the shore

Totally knackered, I could do no more

Stuffed at the table near the 8 o’clock block

Heard Helen and Jo, say “our swim group rocks”

It took me three weeks for the courage to try

And on weekends to the Tron say bless you, goodbye

8 o’clock on the dot, dive into the water

By the side of buoy one, I thought why did I bother

The group were adept and got slicker and slicker

The more I tried, I got sicker and sicker

While Geoff, Jim and Helen, like dolphins did glide

Frank, Jenny, Cathy, Jo, and Hamish beside

While Richard and John kept looking behind

Was he washed ashore by hell or by grind

At that time my mate John while in a Hamilton pool

Said “hey I’ve a challenge, that’s ever so cool

We’ll swim Auckland Harbour, when next it comes up”

I said “I would drown, it’s a poisonous cup” 

  

But a seed that is planted, sets root and takes hold

Though eleven degree winters, are ever so cold

Blue, green, purple and black

Blood to the limbs, in serious lack

There are times when sanity is difficult to tell

Could this truly be heaven or surely be hell

Bayswater to the viaduct, was conquered for sure

Rangitoto to St Heliers in two hours or more

I could finally swim, no matter the time

Spontaneity and freedom, are feelings sublime

Then the competitive spirit began to take hold

Forget just freedom, go all out, be bold

I’ll get there before you, no that never will be

Heaven departs, it’s hell for me

Ah but friendship is always close at hand

And teaching my grandkids to swim has been grand

The coffee as always, will always taste great

The 8 o’clock table was a savoury fate

So the next time you’re out there, Where Cable awaits

Ponder the beauty of our collective fates

A golf cup for swimming, or whatever will be 

My wish is our swimming, will be heaven to thee