July 23- July 28 Week 19/72
each stroke produces an unexpected
gravelly, sand-like sound as the thick
layer of duckweed swirling about me
in marbled patterns of black and green
is pierced by the blades of my paddle
freed of the floating slurry
the spiral of an empty snail shell
resting at the edge of a lily pad sings
of the universe as the stars begin to breathe
life into the dusk and a whispering
breeze coaxes me north to hear
the deep inhalations of a beaver
swimming past into the deepening night