Downstream

of me a woman is doing
backstroke straight into a
bunch of reeds. Then along
comes another swan, the
small support boat is in front
of me and I can’t remember
what hand signal to use. I try
a full wave, then I shout,
‘help! Swan!’ The boat turns
and comes back but the swan
has decided it’s in charge and
so it leads us majestically,
carrying twelve swimmers
and two boats in its wake