Keeping an Eye Out

He warned about the crocodiles.

I said I would keep an eye

we were visiting Disney World

where danger is an illusion

and scheduled six times an hour.

I preferred cooling off in the lake

splashing, exuberant in the cool wet waters.

He warned about the crocodiles

he did not approve

of the splash, the joy in the waters.


Later with a grim satisfied smile on his face

look out there, he said, where you just swam

what do you see out there?

I see a crocodile out there, swimming

swimming very stately

swimming as if he owned the lake

but he is swimming away, I said,

and I will keep an eye…

Peter Goodwin