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Poetry

Kayaking the First Bends

by Joris Soeding

"Ageing" by Lal Buraans
"Ageing" by Lal Buraans

we slide from the muddy shore
onlookers from the bridge
from the other bank a young boy gets close to a ripple
to see without sifting into earth and shells
quickly I am still in sand
river is low and clear
yet I glimpse my son
his paddle natural, unflinching
peering into the yellows and oranges of mid-October
new at something, independent, without fear
a couple is being photographed
as the yellow sliver slips from the bottom
my pride subsides to finding each pocket without stone
by the second curve and without others close by
I can take in the trees, pace to stay even
each slope towards more colors
my son ahead of me and his years

Appeared in Issue Fall '22

Joris Soeding

Nationality: German-American

First Language(s): German
Second Language(s): English

More about this writer

Piece Patron

U.S. Embassy Vienna

Listen to Joris Soeding reading "Kayaking the First Bends".

Supported by:

Land Steiermark: Kultur, Europa, Außenbeziehungen
Stadt Graz