Napowrimo Day 1...How to find yourself

How to find yourself

Make your way down to the river

like a weary pilgrim,

your arms filled with gear.

All of it falls to your feet

like offerings to the river gods

Your boat and paddle wait

As you stand at river’s edge,

Touch your palms to the surface in prayer.

Pull your dry suit over

your rain soaked torso.

The steam from the river

rises like a body in the morning.

Slide on your skirt, PFD, and helmet;

suck in and buckle every latch;

secure, tighten, breathe.

Fold your body into your boat

and spread your skirt across the hull

Rock back and forth until you slip

into the swift current

In the eddy fens, waves and holes

you unlearn old ways

Habits fall away in bloody knuckles

and bruised knees

Boats cracked in two

Paddles lost in the churn

Body sore and broken

Afraid and shaking

Emerging from the white

Reborn raw and new.