Death From the Deep

Image from Wikipedia.

 Death From the Deep

“The same water than can kill you, drown you, give

you hyperthermia is still capable of helping you to

survive.”--Joe Teti.

As a youngster, on the first day of summer, I 

remember being at Alki Beach, across the width

of Elliott Bay from the Seattle skyline. Often it was

quite warm, in the 80’s--but Puget Sound is a 

kissing cousin, and is connected to the Pacific

Ocean 100 miles to the west; all salt water, and

never much over 45 degrees. While swimming in it

your lips turn numb and blue within 15 minutes. They

say that on the hottest day in August, if you happen

to fall off a Super Ferry, you will have about thirty

minutes before hypothermia will kill you.

Our myriad of lakes is more manageable, the water

temperature is in the 50’s. We are a hardy bunch up

in the Northwest. Your body can adjust to lake water,

and you can stay in it for a lot longer--and if you are

lucky, there aren’t a lot of ducks around, and you can

avoid swimmer’s itch. If you are brave enough to swim 

in our many rivers, prepare for a quick dip, for the water 

is coming off glaciers.

To be an Orca

for a day would be fantastic,

slicing through the Sound.

Glenn Buttkus

Haibun

Posted over at d'Verse Poet's Pub