The water has been pretty rough the past several days. We did go out paddling on Lake Michigan with a capable group, but we have chosen, at times, not to paddle on days when the risks outweighed the rewards.
We were thinking about this as we listened to other people make the choice of whether and where to paddle this past weekend. So we were delighted when Mark Hochmuth, our poet-in-residence, sent us the following poem with this note:
“Sharon & Alec – Decided not to paddle from Holland to Saugatuck yesterday after arriving at the lake. Well prepared this time, but after assessing many things, particularly the weather, changed my plans and it turned out to be the right choice. The weather moved in sooner than predicted, and I was out of the water by then.”
Water Wind
(Saugatuck)
Neither gentle nor fresh from southwest
The breeze, moderate and hot
Full of water as Lake Michigan below
Swelling up to touch it
Amid mist, the cool water falls down
The wind blows, wet and hot
Mingling with water from within
Rolling down skin
Kayak and paddle know
Hot above, cool below
Neoprene wet with sweat
Clammy handed grip
Here, I feel all, without and within
Water, fresh and of salt
Soft in drops like tears from above
Moments borne on the wind
–Mark Hochmuth
