The paddle and I
Alone, on our own
Out in the middle of
The churning lake.
wind pushed the bow
Turning me around.
I pitched into the wind,
Back erect, leaning
Against the blow,
Wanting home
Warmth, comfort
Making for shore.
The paddle, 24 years old,
Fit comfortably in my palm
Familiar pressure, angle and
form
Varnish worn and cracked.
The shaft and handle
darkened
With my sweat, dirt, and
age.
The blade narrow for river
work
As it was on the Allagash
Split and chipped
From years of use.
A treasured momento
a wonderful trip.
The waves broke and pitched.
The canoe moved lightly
Like a cork on the water.
Paddle left, back paddle
right.
Splash of the tawny water
As I fought to gain control.
Progress slow but real
Cutting along the edge of
shore
Easy to measure
Foot by foot.
Away from shore again
Buffeted by the air once
more.
Still an hour from home
Muscles taut
And cramped
Torso twisted,
Fighting the storm
As I contort
To steer my canoe.
==============
Edited November 2,
2013
“Wind – v3”
Edited May 4, 2013
“Wind – v2”
July 9, 2000
“Wind”
on Swain’s Lake
Barrington, NH+43° 11' 24.91", -71° 2' 30.18"
&
edited August
21, 2015
Breaking Camp
– v7
(editing
version 3)
edited July
18, 2015
Breaking Camp
– v6
(editing
version 5)
edited April
21, 2015
The Skin of
the Lake – v7
(editing
original)
edited April
21, 2015
Breaking Camp
– v5
(editing
original again)
edited April 19, 2015
The Skin of the Lake – v6
(editing original again)
edited April
17, 2015
The Skin of
the Lake – v5
(editing
version 4)
edited
April 16, 2015
Flowing
North – v4
(editing
version 3)
edited April
16, 2015
the spell of
the night – v3
(editing
version 2)
edited
April 16, 2015
Under
the Stars – v3
(editing
version 2)
edited
April 16, 2015
The
Ledges – v5
(editing
version 4)
edited
April 15, 2015
Breaking
Camp – v4
(editing
version 3)
Edited May 4,
2013
“The Skin of
the Lake – v4
Edited
February 23, 2013
“The Skin of
the Lake – v3”
Edited
February 23, 2013
“The Skin of
the Lake – v2”
July 28, 2010
“The Skin of
the Lake”
-----
edited
April 16, 2015
The
Ledges – v5
(editing
version 4)
edited May 2,
2013
“the spell of
the night – v2”
new poem,
February 23, 2013
“the spell of
the night”
&
Edited
February 23, 2013
“The Skin of
the Lake – v3”
Edited
February 23, 2013
“The Skin of
the Lake – v2”
July 28, 2010
“The Skin of
the Lake”
&
Edited
May 4, 2013
“Under
the Stars – v2”
July
19, 2007 21:28
“Under
the Stars”
&
edited
April 14, 2014
“Breaking
Camp – v3”
(editing
original again)
Edited
May 4, 2013
“Breaking
Camp – v2”
November
23, 2006 18:00
“Breaking
Camp”
&
edited
December 7, 2014
Free
Time – v3
edited
May 28, 2014
Free
Time – v2
posted
May 24, 2004
Free
Time
saved
March 26, 2004
&
Edited
November 2, 2013
“The
Ledges – v4”
Edited
May 4, 2013
“The
Ledges – v3”
Edited
September 20, 2012
“The
Ledges – v2”
editing
the original again
inspired by
reading it at Poets’ Corner
monthly poetry
reading,
at the Suncook
Senior Center
September 10,
2012
“The Ledges”
Written
July 14, 2000.
It
is based on a single night in the summer of 1977 when I was part of a group
from Claremont's Stevens High School that canoed the Allagash in northern
Maine.
Allagash
Wilderness Waterway
&
It
was the third and final major canoe trip I went on (Saco River in 1975 starting
in Fryeburg, ME, Allagash in 1976-July-ish when it was warmer and slower). This
trip was earlier, in May, when the water ran faster and the time was spent
moving down river with the flow of the river. Nights were a lot cooler and the
food was a lot different. Many of us had bad hypothermia the first night
because it was a cold rain and none of us had unpacked our bags to pull out the
foul weather gear. I remember well having to strip off all of my cold wet clothes
and sharing a sleeping bag with another camper. The night written about here
started innocently enough. We arrived at this particular campsite on Eagle Lake
(or Churchill Lake) earlier than normal, because of the river's current. We all
set up each tent and set the dinner fire going. I think it was fried bologna.
We all turned in early. We were tired. The moon rose before 11. There were ants
and black flies everywhere. One of the campers had to sit by the fire at each
campsite to ward off the black flies. Anyway, one by one we all realized we
weren't going to sleep any more that night. Before am, we were all pacing
around, uneasy. The leaders all agreed to put out for the next camp. We weren't
in any rush at am though. This was the way I felt about this night. After we
put in mid morning at the next site, I remember the wonderful brook trout we
caught and I can still taste it, twenty-three years later. I think these times,
when I was moving from Massachusetts to New Hampshire, when I was canoeing the Saco
and then the Allagash were some of the happiest of my high school days. On the
1976 trip, from Massachusetts, I found the canoe paddle I wrote about in the
poem "Wind" I always talked about going back to the Allagash; but I
have never gone back. It wasn't until 22 years later that I finally got my
canoe again.
All of my
poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001,
2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014,
2015, 2016, and 2017. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See
all 43,340 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
Allagash,
Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Canoe, Churchill Lake, creation, Faith, God,
hearing, Maine, memories, Nature, night, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A.
Foss, river, senses, sound, water, Writing Poetry,
#Canoe #cold
#creation #eyes #Faith #God #hearing
#imagination #memories #Nature #night #river #senses #sight #sound #water
#Writing #Poetry #Allagash #ME
=================
Canoe, Faith, fire,
flowers, hope, July, loons, moon, Nature, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, rain,
Raymond A. Foss, religious poetry, schools, senses, spring, taste, water, wind,
#Canoe #Faith #fire
#flowers #hope #July #loons #moon #Nature #poetry #Poetry #rain #schools
#senses #spring #taste #water #wind
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