a day floating with the river mist
paddling toward an everlasting promise of life or death
beckoning to disappear us under the surface
downstream is not a path that words could retrace as the cursive courses over rock ledges
log ridges and sand shelves in meandering wiles
every inlet incites
branching the stream
the rhythm of paddles lulls us to dream
wearing unshakeable smiles we can't relax
attracted toward an overhang where none ever thought to alight
balancing on a limb our everything as only nature
can teach patience to hover without wings
neither gravity’s pull nor quickness below can sway our intent
swerving to claim the point a shaded mirage hovering
climbable from the shallow in answer to a question
ascent to a seat upon the highest branch is tantamount
grasping a limb above and slipping from the cloudy
confluence into clarity of perspective
holding our positions is a privilege we share
the contest remains to reach always further and higher
though perfection found can hardly be shadowed
fine wine is a poor measure of our discourse and the cool
satisfaction of unquenched appetites for adventurous conversations
trusting that carrots before us may haphazardly gather along picturesque paths
tempting as a feathered nest
rest has repositioned horizons
as smooth legs of time descend in clockwork fashion toward half past
yet not a touch beyond plumb
through a bridge's hips we flow
converging quickly as approaching pillars
roil the gentle ripples into a torrent
the moment to turn back has ebbed
accepting forwardness as a path chosen
and grasp that reaching a destination sooner
serves neither who both deserve the race
that swerves together into one astounding possibility of a truce.