the swimmer—and the bather

“A flesh-colored moon, as ripe as any ‘vine-ripe’ tomato, was skinny-dipping in a lake of its own light. Leaning back, Lisa watched it slowly swim out of sight, languid, naked, and unashamed. The occasional stars were like inflamed eyeballs, spying on the swimmer—and the bather—through peepholes in an anthracite curtain.”

—Tom Robbins, Villa Incognito, 2003. Lisa is taking a bath, and merging with the universe.