Peaceful Paddle

Photo by Alex Shapiro


Peaceful Paddle

I kayaked out
to what I gratefully refer to
as my front yard,
Turn Island;
a wildlife refuge
just steps
and a few paddle strokes
from my house.

The air really smells like…
air!
here,
and the visuals
in all directions
are overwhelmingly distracting.

Up:
island after island,
a dormant glacial ice-covered volcano,
and a constantly shifting
water surface
on which
some of the strongest currents
in the world
wreak havoc,
stop,
and then begin again.

Down:
clarity so stunning
that you can’t help but stare
into the depths
as you silently glide
over rocks and creatures
on the sea floor.

And for those who think
the Pacific Northwest
is only about clouds,
take a gander at the solid blue.
No color correction, folks.

Gilligan would have loved it
here.

Alex Shapiro July 2008