THE RUSSIAN RIVER


Floating on an inner tube
Down the Russian River
All of us laughing
As the current carries us

Paul comes over and flips me
I tumble into the water green and muddy
Gasp for air grabbing on to the blackness
Trying desperately to right myself

He smiles at me another jab
I am determined now to get him back
Back in the tube again
I move toward him

With all my might and determination
I attack
Waving my arms ineptly
He throws me over again

That is the way with older brothers
The River still moving quietly
Unaware of the conflict
He is bigger than I but still I must

I move in for yet another battle
I will not give up
He knows this and turns angry
I see it in his eyes

Three years separate us
That means nothing to me
I will get him back
Again I am swimming in the water

I let the tube float away from me
I smile to myself
I have freedom now
He dunks my head into the River

Again and again
I can't breathe and I am clawing
To tip him over he releases me
I retrieve my tube someday I will get him


Michael V Hechtman