The kite Summer vacation but where is the sun It’s a raw cold day, what to do for fun Bad storm last night, way out to sea Now huge waves crashing at my feet To cold and rough to swim, nothing to do Small craft advisory, don't go out without a crew I know, I'll buy a kite to fly with my daughter The wind is strong but it's blowing towards the water We built the kite and she tied the string Now I just hope we don't break the damn thing Running along the beach, the kite is staying low The wind grabs it and whips it, first fast, then slow It struggles and stalls and then starts to climb But far to soon, it's run out of time It picks up speed but it's falling to fast It lands in the water, that didn't last Down in the water - crashed into the sea My daughters face, how depressed, I put her on my knee Alligator tears well up in her eyes, That stupid kite should still be in the sky I look for the kite, its caught on a buoy I wonder if it's worth it, to rescue the toy The look on Dawn's face, she didn't get to fly it I go get changed, the rescue, I'll try it I grab a steak knife to untangle the line And walk in the water, I hope this doesn't take much time The water is cold, the surf is crashing I bite down on the knife handle, my teeth are chattering The waves are to big, I lost sight of the kite It was straight ahead, now its off to the right Where am I going, what's happening to me I'm being pulled against my will, further out to sea I'm caught in a rip tide, I struggle and I fight I swim harder and harder, with all my might To hell with the kite, I should have just bought another If I can't get back, Dawn will have only a mother My arms are getting tired, my legs feel numb This for a few dollar kite, how could I be so dumb My wife and friends point east from the shore I finally catch on, turn, and swim harder than before My mind is racing, I am unable to float, I have to keep swimming, I need a boat What if I don't make it, what if I die Who will take care of daughter, my wife and my unborn child The anger and fear are starting to mix The adrenalin is flowing, get me out of this fix That's it, get angry, get mad My wife needs a husband, my kids need a dad Land is getting closer, I'm so far down the beach The cold, the cramps, the pain, shore is almost within reach Misquamicut Beach, Long Island Sound Where are the life guards, there aren't any around Just a few yards and I think I can touch I think I'm gonna make it, they are shouting so much My family is waiting, just a little more strength Yes, I made the whole distance, went the whole length They help me out of the water, I'm so weak I can't stand, I collapse from exhaustion, fall face first in the sand My wife covers me with a blanket, my little girl gives me a smile, I don't think I'll go back in the ocean for a long long while. (experienced in 1988, written in 2007)
man what a ride, i felt like i was in the poem right there with you being sucked in the tide, i thought it was a very well put recolection of your past experience, i have felt that tide pull me in once myself and it can be very scary, i liked the poem very much, sometimes it can be tricky to make such a lengthy expresion hold so much excitement, i thought you did a splendid job.
