Kern River I shoot the river on an inner tube black lifesaver, slippery, legs stuck over the side bounding and spinning in the white-water world another idiot beside me in a kayak miscalculates, takes a spill he is gone like he never existed under the aimless bottom of the boat |
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rounding a curve I glimpse his head – I'm swept onward, unable to help – he, at least, had a paddle the Kern in flood: three people drowned this month a ranger told us stay out of the angry middle |
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making shore, doused lugging the inner tube upstream I overtake my fellow adventurer he lifts the kayak and water streams out like years: with the talent of strangers – or married people – for ignoring each other, we climb back together |