Saturday’s Poem: First Lesson

Another favorite of mine, this one is a  poet's advice to his daughter about swimming...and life: 

FIRST LESSON by Phillip Booth

Lie back, daughter, let your head

be tipped back in the cup of my hand.

Gently, and I will hold you. Spread

your arms wide, lie out on the stream

and look high at the gulls. A dead-

man’s float is face down. You will dive

and swim soon enough where this tidewater

ebbs to the sea. Daughter, believe

me, whe nyou tire on the long thrash

to your iisland, lie up, and survive.

As you float now, where I held you

and let go, remember when fear

cramps your heart what I told you:

lie gently and wide to the light-year

stars , lie back, and the sea will hold you.