Riptides of the Great Lakes

The riptides can be invisible,
The lake convincingly calm
Taking a good swimmer
Out beyond the breakers. 

The directions: don’t fight,
Don’t waste energy on the impossible. Swim
Perpendicular to the shoreline
Until you are released or failing that, float
On your back awaiting rescue. 

All this goes against your instinct
To struggle like a militant angel
Or a wild horse in a throwing rig
Learning obedience.

The flags were up
But the running waves, their white manes flying
Proved irresistible as horses whinnying. 

You plunged into the surf
Joyous with risk. You were only
Waist-deep. What could so easily
Sweep you off your feet. The undertow
Like love employs its suction. 

A word rises in your throat,
A gasping froth you swallow
And how you drown is not a visible thrashing,
But a moment where you become unseen
In a quiet spectacle.

JOAN COLBY

Joan Colby published twenty-five books of poetry, including two forthcoming books: The Salt Widow (FutureCycle Press) and The Kingdom of the Birds (The Poetry Box). She was widely published in journals. She received a Fellowship in Literature from the Illinois Arts Council, as well as many literary awards. She also served as senior editor of FutureCycle Press and Associate Editor of Good Works Review.