At Last, A True Spring Day

Photo by J. Sharland Day

  Words could not express the awe I felt

         While kayaking down the river

    After three days of rain, clouds and cold

         Which seemed would last forever,

    Until, that morn, the sun broke free

    From that cloudy, rainy misery

  And shared its warmth, no clouds to see,

    Breaking through Spring fever.

  So happy for the exercise,

         Besides the lovely day,

  We paddled down the river,

         Forever, we wished to stay,

  But soon our unused muscles

         Became so very sore

  And it wasn’t very long

         That we knew we could row no more.

  We edged up to the bankside

         Beneath a River Birch

  To enjoy the sun beneath some shade

         To watch an eagle perch

  There was a nest that we could see

         But did not know if there would be

  Eaglets waiting to be set free

         And we had no way to search.

Photo by J. Sharland Day

  To hunt for food, we surmised,

         When the mother flew away,

  But she’d not be long, we all knew,

         For her babes’d be easy prey.

  As she soared back to her nest

         It was time for us to go

  To continue our Spring adventure

         After enjoying the little show

  Of watching the magnificence

         From this wonder while in flight.

  Flying high then swooping down

         Unafraid of the great height.

  I wished that I could be a bird

         With wings with which to soar

  Could I go forever?

         Would I want for more?

  I looked beyond into the sky

         As we paddled to our destination

  I saw a jet with its contrail,

         Taking folks on vacation?

  If they looked down, they would not see

         The tiny speck that would be me

  Nor know my wishes to be free

         To fly to any nation.

  I am free to fly, of course, I can

         If cash and time were met,

  Rather like this river we row

         With no wind or waves to regret.

  We can do anything that we desire

         If all things are aligned,

  If we had no boundaries,

         Or areas to define.

  And so, on this beautiful day of Spring

         Kayaking on this awesome stream

  I am making a vow to myself

         To, within this year, plan a scheme

  For making true at least one dream

         To travel places, I have not seen

  But unlike a bird - 

         My wishes are my wings.

Photo by J. Sharland Day