Downstream

men have bathed and paddled
and raced. Then I see the nose
of a crocodile peeping just
above the water, disguised as
a log. I tell myself I’m in the
Thames, I must be going
mad.
I come to a white house on
the right bank; we’ve been
told this means we’re about
three-quarters of the way. Yet
still our swim goes on and on.
I can hear a boat behind me
but when I turn round there is