It was a pleasant day

before the wind

riled the water

to pummeling waves

and threats of drowning.

The shore seemed too far,

the paddles too heavy,

the waves too high to best.

Too late to hide

and too dangerous to veer,

we left our fears

to wailing and clinging about our legs

while we paddled,

steering the bow forward,

cresting the onslaught

the only way one can—

head on.