Awakening the Dragon
Leaden sky hangs heavy over Ashley River.
Hints at rain. Moisture-laden wind promises it.
I, water-uneasy, hope for whitecaps: small crafts
cancellation. Blackwater waves tease white, stop shy
of cresting. I worry-shuffle dock edge, puzzle
an entry to this plain-white, canoe-like longboat.
I contemplate staying dockside
but instead with eight newbies, line up, life-vested
secure and shiver in February cool mist.
Seasoned veterans separate us in three sections:
First section: leaders (set rhythm of stroke and pace)
Second section: engine room (pace determiners)
Third section: rockets (power, propel boat forward).
I am a rocket.
Long-haulers— caller, steerer, another rocket —
board, our count now: twelve sister warriors, two abreast.
Paddles up! Boat breath quickens. Take it away! I
reach/lean forward, extend over choppy water
water-bury my blade deep: hard-pull parallel.
My radiation-inflamed pectorals rebel.
I groan.
My seatmate reassures: We’ve all been where you are.
You’ll get through this. I hard-push the edge, breathe beyond,
drive paddle deep, stroke back, muscles resist…release.
Stroke – Stroke – Stroke – caller voice-drums cancer-defying
cadence. Line steady we forge forward, fire-breathing
women red-scaling our plain white boat, our paddles
grow dragon claws.
Our heartbeats drum, fire finding water. Let it run…
14 thoughts on "Awakening the Dragon"
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Enjoyed taking this ride with you!
Glad to hear, Linda! Truly a glorious one!
This is powerful, Pam – your verb inventions are intriguing and more!
Thanks, Nancy! Two of my young friends, 10 and 12, insist I write a Pamtionary for my inventions!
Back to the Dragon Boat Warrior! Now she’s awake. Love this push poem push paddle push. Really enjoyed this one,
The little haiku you read was birthed while I labored on this longer one. Glad you enjoyed it!
All the punctuation and stoppage in the poem, creating all the quick phrases and sentences, really accentuates the tension and action of the poem. Killer ending, too.
Thanks, Phillip. Was hopeful it would do just that. Incredible paddle was hoping to do justice to the moment.
I agree with what others have said–but I also found this really a pleasure to read. The verbs and parentheses are my favorite parts of this.
Thank you, Shaun. I do like working verbs! Glad you liked them and my parentheses. Wasn’t sure about the parenthesis but needed them.
left me breathless!
When I paddled, did the same for me, too. Glad you felt it.
Bravo to all that the others have said above, Pam! This poem has great energy. Knowing your other work, I am privileged to watch a cycle emerge out of your own history, in a variety of forms. LexPoMo has been good for you, and kudos for keeping at it all month long!!
🙂
Kudus to you, friend, for keeping at it too!
LexPoMo is like a dragon boat paddle– energy comes in community.