Escaping Polly Perkins Whistle Blast Patrols Poem by Terence George Craddock

what was the survival trick
when escaping Polly Perkins
whistle blast blowing patrols?
to avoid getting caught
sentenced
systematically frog matched
out of town public baths
under a cloud

of humiliation and henceforth
banned from town baths
the trick was to ensure the pool
was crowded, to swim
underwater changing directions
for at least 30 seconds,

surface briefly
then dive
underwater
again
and never
surface
and look
back;

too many kids
to watch to keep
hunting
for the one
that got
away;

the other kids
enjoyed
escapade escapes
Polly probably appreciated
the water rat challenge
over multiple sherries
during the night
following;

Copyright © Terence George Craddock