Riding the Dragon

(for Diane & Gepke)

first annual Dragon Boat Race Festival,

Lethbridge,ab, 2002

dragon boat races —

breast cancer survivors toss

petals on the lake,

pray for their fallen sisters

while witnesses hold their boats

“feathering” it’s called —

cocking the oar ever so

slightly left or right

to keep the boat straight, on course.

Oh, that treatment were that sure!

a rose is a rose —

the team named Chemo Savvy

know it in their bones;

still, their muscles must ache less

when they cross the finish line

stand on the gunwales

the coach advises steersmen —

get part of the blade

out of the water and you

will see better, cut your drag

we’re all paddlers here —

those in the dragon boats who

row furiously

against fear’s metastases,

those on the sidelines who yell

Dig! Dig! One! Two! Three!

the drummer yells to my mates.

power ten on three. . .!

I draw a bead from ball cap

to lamp standard peak and hold

Six/sixteen! she yells —

six deep strong strokes followed by

sixteen quicker ones.

engine room, power house lift

us up until we glide free!