Heading for Iwo Jima - April 7 2022

 

Heading for Iwo Jima

April 7 2022

My dad called them trunks.

I imagine

in a period piece

in a posh English accent

bathing costume would do.

To me, it's a swimsuit;

medium blue,

with small pineapples

outlined in white.

Except at first glance

they look like hand grenades;

so not sun-bathing in Hawaii,

but in a landing craft

heading for Iwo Jima.

It has 2 side pockets

one back.

Not of much use, in a swimsuit   —

  —  phone?  ...car keys?   ... Kleenex?

Both elastic waist and drawstring;

like suspenders-and-a-belt

for the man who takes no chances.

Front crawl and cannon balls,

jumping off the high-tower.

Or inching to the end

then climbing back down,

because discretion

is the better part of valour.

Or the hell with it

and skinny dip.

The unencumbered swim,

on a hot summer day

everybody in.