afloat

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.