Big Blue River

Big Blue River

skin absorbing the heavy rays of sun heat and humidity attempt to hinder peaceful breathing the pickup squeaks and trembles with every hole and crack in the road windows down the wind whips through your long locks of gold swimming trunks and sports bras only, and a whole tube of sunscreen stop the truck, time to unload release the straps covering the bed of the truck heave out the plastic diamonds together, pick two up at once show those men over there you don’t need them, you don’t want them grab the water bottles and the bag the oars are already in the kayak

go under the tree line and set the boats into the water, jump in push off hear the gentle rift against the movement and the water birds chirp sweetly as insects buzz like small motor planes flying past take the oar in both hands and paddle, from side to side under the bridge and through the rocky course finally reach the slow calm stream wind through the river, the one known so well taken so many times, an expert in the field by now

there are more people out today than normal pass them by quickly, silently gloat in confidence curve further and further through the stream memorize where the big boulders are from last time so the kayak doesn’t get stuck, no getting out and walking the trees so dark and green the Camp’s soldiers would stand out sky so blue and light, get lost in the vast openness around the white puffy clouds the small ripples in the water, provided by the wind, brings up a soft mist against glowing skin this scene of nature so beautiful it makes one want to believe in god in a god that wasn’t known before, because the last one didn’t work out too well

two dragonflies break through the swarm of gnats to land on the boat the two bodies gleam metallic green and blue, then show the world of two loves

look at the future and see that love spread and multiply through this river path get to the sketchy part of the river, it has been done many times before don’t worry, just get through fast! paddle hard and paddle strong, know the way and where to avoid the water will carry you through the rapids, just steer away from the - Oh no! steer hard but the new fallen tree from last week's storm is a new obstacle it can’t be avoided along with the normal dead log to the left get stuck in between, so does the other kayak, the duo is stuck Look out! Here comes a family in a canoe! - CRACK! the first member of the pair is struck in the head with an oar blood spurts and travels down like a stream of water, the second is tossed out of the boat and submerged under water, attempt to swim back to the surface get slammed in the head by family in the canoe stuck in the rotating current hit against the log that has been stuck there forever, drown

the first of the pair makes it to shore, sobbing and heaving Where is the second of the pair?! the second is pulled out of the water gasping for air and steadies on the kayak reunited at shore, share tears, care and calm the second down get water to wash off the blood, the pair hold on for a long time

to get out of this nightmare the pair must get back in the boats, back into the water…

never afraid until now, the pair push and paddle with strength that feels weak against the power of the waters might breathe, steady the pair get past the swirling current and into safe waters, the stream calm as it was before the incident occurred the pair shaken by what had happened only make it halfway through the normal journey down the river, reach the bridge near the saddle club row left to the shore in defeat, the pair help one another out and pull the kayaks on the sand, carry both kayaks together but this time there is no other choice

once the truck is delivered by another party the pair load up the kayaks and this time the first one drives, the second one’s vision is blurred from bouncing off of the water, the canoe, and the log sit in the truck in silence, the tears have dried by now hold hands strong and tight, never let go because for the very first time,

it feels real

that [the world] is trying to tear the pair ~ a p a r t . ~