A poem about my recent boating excursion with a friend...
Rebecca bought
a shiny boat
and invited
Jan aboard
attracted
to a jaunt afloat
Jan still
felt untoward
Rebecca’s
skills were surely great
her vessel water
tight
but at going
anywhere by eight
Jan’s inner
sloth took fright
they
compromised on half past nine
for their lakeside
rendezvous
the
temperature was just sublime
the water
looked nice too
to get the
boat set up to launch
with all
its parts secured
they employed
ev’ry kind of wrench
in Bec’s substantial
hoard
Lastly a fiddly
hood-like thing
the bimini they erected
to ensure
that from the sun and wind
they would
be protected
As the vessel
edged towards the wet
it occurred
to Jan
that
neither had joined the boat club yet
but to use
their ramp they planned
Rebecca
said she’d made a call
but the
club sounded elitist
joining their
ranks she thought she’d stall
and maybe completely
resist -
If
questioned they agreed to assume
an air of
nonchalance
say they
intended to join soon
but wished
to try it once
The craft
began its slow descent
into the
muddy swell
when a lean
young tousle-haired gent
was maneuvering
his as well
he gently
nudged their boat aside
with a slight
cocking of his head
Bec turned
to Jan and softly said
‘that’s water etiquette’
before they
commenced across the lake
they
hovered on the jetty
pondering what
steps to take
to board
and keep things steady
With one
sure hand Bec held the boat
with the
other she helped Jan
their
sandalled feet were duly soaked
as they
hatched their launching plan
This boat,
as small boats are wont,
had one
bench seat for two
of course the pilot faced the front
but the
passenger, (who knew?)
must face away, to aft
Back to
back they’d lean
so while
the pilot steered the craft
Jan could
see where they’d been!
The lake now
clear of floating traffic
Bec turned
the ignition key
but the
craft remained quite static
what had caused
this little hitch?
and how could
it be mended?
Bec had
just to flick a switch
the
propeller then descended
They were
off and cut a frothy path
speeding on
their ride
their feet received
another bath
as did much
else inside
Bouncing in
no direction particular
the bimini
poles a-shakin’
in her
quest to stay perpendicular
a tight hold
of them Jan was takin’
she
surprised herself by realising that
she'd had the presence of mind
to secure her
mobile phone and hat
firmly beneath
her behind
Communication
between the friends was tough
with their
reverse bookend posture
at first
the trip was loud and rough
life
jackets’ a further imposture
'How fast do you think we’re going?' asked Bec
her words
almost lost in the breeze
Jan in fact
had no way to check
nor could she
guess it with ease
next she thought
she heard Bec say
‘I think 4 is the limit’
‘Knots?’ she pondered, anyway
she was sure they’d reached it
Bec
indicated boats some metres away
implying
they should be steering clear
not capsize
them or drench them in spray
more water
etiquette it would appear
Then Bec
brought the boat around
smoothly, with
lesser velocity
for their next
two laps Jan found
her pole
grasp could cease its ferocity
philosophical
now re. her sodden feet
and enjoying
the ride with her chum
well-adjusted
too to her backward seat
and her
phone’s imprint on her bum
At about this
point Bec needed a break
and turned
the boat t’ward the shore
their pace by
now, steady and sedate
Jan would
not have said ’no’ to some more
If getting
into the vessel
had proved
quite a challenge
getting out
was more of a hassle
that Jan
doubted she’d easily manage
Twixt the
side of the boat and the jetty’s edge
like a human
concertina
she
shuffled and got temporarily wedged
and hoped
no other boat owners had seen her
Rebecca
helped her to the shore
this time
getting a soaking
but in
seconds they were once more
on terra
firma and joking
Later over
coffee, Rebecca still fairly soggy
said: ‘I am taking the boat out Sunday noon
to acclimatise Cliffy and Maggie, my doggies
to the experience soon…
Her remark occasioned
Jan’s speculation
would the
pups behave as they oughta?
what would
be their seating orientation?
would they respect
the etiquette of the water?
