Animus
A six-person river raft bobbing up and down in the frigid Animus River. A paddle stretched out too far. One rapid, knocking me overboard.
beyond white foam so many spruces
Break the surface. Still holding the safety line circling the raft. My face, slapped by the river. Again. Again. Back under. Bubbles from my last breath. Jagged rocks scrape my back. One clear thought: I could die here.
river’s roar any moment the call to let go
Hands press my shoulders down. I ricochet above the rapids. Those same hands — my friend and raft partner — pull me aboard.
more paddling last rapids left behind
first published in Image Curve, April 16, 2015
Photograph by Andrew Spencer
Bjorn hosts Haibun Monday over at dVerse Poets Pub. He asks for a haibun featuring water.
UPDATED (5/31/18): Sanaa, over at Real Toads, imagines Water Under The Bridge ~
Frank J. Tassone 
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