Email Poem

Your IP Address: 18.191.36.245

Your Email Address:

To Email Address:

Subject

Personal Note:

Poem Title:

Poem

Chapter 11: The Problem with Lakes

Canoes and larger lakes don’t mix well I’m afraid,
The rough equivalent of a margarita and a toothpick.
On the Mississippi a lake means a dam somewhere,
The scenic route buried now under dam water
Its prurient writhing now veiled from prying eyes
By puritanical hedonists more interested in flood control
And water reserves, than glacial art or Sculptor’s knife of water.

The placid appearance of a lake is modern quicksand
For a loaded canoe with its low running boards,
The wake of pleasure craft the worst as dilettantanti
In power’s limits, rush to greet you, cameras flashing.
The huge commercial barges pushed by true power craft
With opposing twin screws, create almost no wake at all,
But neither can they stop on a dime, so best stay clear.

Many Mississippi lakes cannot be seen across
And though the shortest path from entrance to egress
May be obvious to you, it may not be the wisest choice.
A day’s weather can change in minutes, who’s to warn you,
And some lakes can take hours to cross, what’s Plan B?
You’ve no flight plan, the lake may be deserted, who’ll miss you,
And a sudden wind’s waves on a large lake can kill you.

Brian Johnston
October 29, 2014

CAPTCHA Preview

Type the characters you see in the picture

Required