A smile as grim as winter splits

his face as tension forces bones

to pull with muscles' urgent strength

and keep the fragile craft upright.

The water's murmur rises more

as he approaches canyon's door.

Now spume is seen in rainbow's orb

afloat from river's awesome drop,

and eddies try to rip the boat

from course of straight and true.

His paddle digs to stay the tide

as river's chasm beckons wide.

With no escape he rushes on

in cataract's magnetic grip,

as ever faster water boils

and hurtles to the edge.

An oath is caught on gasping breath

approaching seeming certain death.

A missile dropping through the falls

to smash into the waiting pool

and live, to cheat this river's hold

to float upon the day.

So once again he drifts on home,

to dream at night of rapids' foam.