the boys performing flips off the bridge
domineered the waterhole yesterday
assuming it was their privilege
to slice the green water for display
till a thirsty herd of ponies cut in
among the bikini’d girls on the bank
then girls were girls again also women
as they stood around smoothing those flanks
the boys all stayed away and aligned
themselves with their mates but kept observing
the girls talking and calm horses for signs
of the yearlings moving on - none nerving
himself to join the confident girls
and stand in place of a colt’s peril
Oxford
6 July 2018
I passed by the bathing place at Fiddler’s Island on Port Meadow on the afternoon of 5 July, and this is what I took in.