Braced, sliding in
Amid wild yells even as others leap
Into the roiling river
Water crashes over,
Rushing up the nose, into the ears
And silence, till head breaks free
To the sounds of beating waves
Turning face to let it wash over, catch breath
Instant panic gives way to adrenalin
Letting the river carry all along
Bobbing in red buoyancy
Spilling into the calm
Pillowed by water, looking to the sun
The dark shadows underneath (imagined?) lose menace
Giving way to fullness
Of deep valley, flowing water
And green mountains against blue sky
To exhilaration, and peace
