Big Pine Rapids

Welcome to Canada and the month of  May in Ontario
when snow melts and walls of cold white water thunder
down over ancient stone in the land of the Algonquians
ice cold vibrant holy sacred water mountains of froth

The  tin canoe is red I am wearing life jacket orange
one minute I am in the canoe at the front and into the
churning mess of Big Pine Rapids we go French River
no not Little Pine Rapids but Big Pine Rapids power

One  minute in the boat desperately trying to balance
paddles lowered flat in the hopes of keeping us safe
One minute in the boat the next in the undertow yes
knocking on heaven's door I am in deep death distress

The water undertow sucked me into a tunnel of dark
below was the sun beyond to another world of life
where a body was not necessary I saw bits of flesh
falling of my bones how long would death take now


 I saw the wrought iron table dark green round
two empty teacups and saucers all in fine china
as I saw my own death in the middle I saw where
water did not matter where time stood still forever


Between life and death what as exotic place to be
the ceremony of tea claimed my presence at the table