L Milton Hankins Poet Quatrain

Whitewater Rafting

Purple shadows drift beneath the gray sky forge
Mists dipping into verdant valleys like quicksilver
Skimming the rapids where we hurtle downriver
Through seething whitewater of New River gorge
     Hurtling toward narrow waters of the Gauley
     'Neath the bridge to form the Kanawha mighty.

THIRD PLACE WINNER
written May 22, 2021; reworked May 23, 2021
entered "Bite Size 2" Poetry Contest
sponsored by Line Gautier

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Terry Miller June 5, 2021 at 9:00 AM Congratulations such power in so few lines. L Milton Hankins June 8, 2021 at 11:30 AM Thank you for saying that, Terry. It made my afternoon!

Greg Gaul June 4, 2021 at 1:33 PM Gauley? Dear bard, you know how to lure me in. Congrats. L Milton Hankins June 8, 2021 at 11:29 AM Yep, Gauley River joins New River at Gauley Bridge, West Virginia, to form the Kanawha River. Thanks, Greg.

Gershon Wolf May 30, 2021 at 8:44 PM Way to go on your trophy win in Line's very competitive contest! Cheers, gw L Milton Hankins May 30, 2021 at 8:46 PM Thanks so much, G.W. It was an enjoyable write.

Kim Merryman May 29, 2021 at 7:12 PM Milton, your descriptive words make this poem come alive! Congrats on your win! Blessings, Kim M L Milton Hankins May 29, 2021 at 7:29 PM Thanks so much, Kim. I really appreciate your thoughtful and kind comment.

Sam Kauffman May 29, 2021 at 11:32 AM Through your words and vivid imagery I can feel the power of the river and bask in the beauty surrounding it. Wonderfully crafted ML! Have gone whitewater rafting. Amazing experience. Congratulations on your win. L Milton Hankins May 29, 2021 at 11:42 AM Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment, Sam. It is always good to hear from you. I'm glad you had an awesome experience on the river.

Andrea Dietrich May 29, 2021 at 8:46 AM Beautiful imagery in this descriptive poem, Milt. Congrats! L Milton Hankins May 29, 2021 at 9:55 AM Thanks, Andrea. I grew up very close to the place where whitewater is so popular...in the New River Gorge National Park.

Caren Krutsinger May 25, 2021 at 1:18 PM I have always wanted to try this; now even more than before L Milton Hankins May 29, 2021 at 9:54 AM I hope you get to, Caren. I'm just a coward. I like my feet on dry land!

Juliet Ligon May 22, 2021 at 9:44 PM Beautiful imagery. Sounds like a fun adventure. L Milton Hankins May 23, 2021 at 8:31 AM For many, it is; for me, it would be terrifying. Thanks for your read and comment, Juliet.

Kim Rodrigues May 22, 2021 at 3:04 PM And it is so much fun! Kim Rodrigues May 23, 2021 at 1:12 PM I rode the rapids in Alaska. They told us, if you fall off the boat don’t swim to shore. Get back on the boat and I had to wear a dry suit. L Milton Hankins May 22, 2021 at 7:31 PM That it is, especially for those people who like living on the edge. Thanks, Kim.

Alexis Y. May 22, 2021 at 2:46 PM Hi L. Milton, It sounds fun and dangerous at the same time. I don't think it would be for me. I enjoyed the read:-) Alexis L Milton Hankins May 22, 2021 at 7:32 PM Thanks for the read, Alexis. It isn't my idea of fun either!

Tom Cunningham May 22, 2021 at 11:49 AM Would love to give it a go Milton, dangerous but fun, for some reason the film Deliverance came to mind. Tom L Milton Hankins May 22, 2021 at 11:50 AM I hope you get the opportunity, Tom. My wife took a youth group down the rapids, but I refused to go. It's a dangerous sport, indeed. I had no idea this little verse would get such attention. See below!

Mystic Rose Rose May 22, 2021 at 11:35 AM I have never been whitewater rafting, but I think if I did I would definitely love it. :) L Milton Hankins May 22, 2021 at 11:52 AM It is a very dangerous sport, Vie. I have never had the courage to try it on a large scale, although I did a set of small rapids in the lower New River one time.

Darlene De Beaulieu May 22, 2021 at 11:29 AM Hello Milton, Is White water rafting being in a hug water raft with many people inside the large raft? Being pulled by a motor boat? Then going out into the very deep only to have the bottom pulled out and everyone gets wet? Is the white water rafting? Or something else? Thank you wating to hear your answer. . Darlene De Beaulieu May 22, 2021 at 12:18 PM People from all over cam for this tour. We made new friends. It was a fun day. Enjoy your day my friend. Darlene De Beaulieu May 22, 2021 at 12:16 PM Hello Milton, When my husband and I went to Niagara Falls Canada We went to an area Where we paid for a adventure on a huge raft pulled by a boat. We were going into deep waters on a tour. The boat bottom opend up and we got all wwet. Weh changed clothing when we gort back where we started our tour. it was fun. L Milton Hankins May 22, 2021 at 11:53 AM No, Darlene. It's many people in a very large raft going down river through various rapids of varying ratings. It's a popular sport in the New River Gorge, but it is dangerous. I imagine everyone gets wet, but not as you described.

Sotto Poet May 22, 2021 at 11:10 AM Wonderful symbolism and perfect wording, Milton, have a nice weekend, my friend L Milton Hankins May 22, 2021 at 11:28 AM Thanks so much, Lasaad. I am from the whitewater rafting region of Fayette County, WV, location of the newest national park, The New River Gorge. It was a pleasure to write this verse.