THE SWIMMER WITH THE LONG CIGAR

There was a man who jumped because he felt like it into the sea

off Florida (near Vero Beach) to swim he said to Tanezrouft.

They told him, those who knew, the place he named was far too far

and anyhow far in a continent far from the shore

and never had a drop of water dropped on Tanezrouft,

but “is that so?” said he and jumped into the sea,

guitar slung round his back and puffing at an eight inch long cigar.

Reporters say they saw him Tuesday noon doing the crawl

between Bou Djebeha and Abelbodh, chipper as a trout

for all the sand, “having furthermore acquired

the native patter and a rose-lipped slave to cool him with her fan.”

Well! I too can swim! Teach me the rest, dear man.