Escape

Step by slow step,
the weight balanced by a single handle
rocking back and forth
careening into legs
as we walk through the grass to the water.
High stems bow gently in the breeze,
tickling the legs as I walk past,
shuffling along as the water gets closer,
almost there.
I take a breath of the moist salted air
as I set the weight down,
Jadis sits on the sand eager for our trip.
Burning pain brings me from my reverie,
looking down in dismay at the dreaded color
red like cherries
feasting on the flesh,
killer ants attacking my lovely skin
as red welts rise up to greet my dismay.
I slap myself here
then there
then here again wondering
from what bowel of Hell did these emerge from?
We walk back for the second craft
and I watch the ground for blatant party hot spots
yet what do I see,
but the tall strand of grass mocking me,
a line of ants just waiting to catch a ride
to score a free meal
on my tender juicy flesh,
but I’m not down with that
so I move away,
no free ride today
’cause we’ve got places to go
and sights to see,
so I’ll not have some insects feasting on me,
so we push to the water
and gliding away
beneath the meandering clouds
into the peaceful mangroves….
to hear a big splash….
wondering what the heck was that?
Nope,
Not looking back.

Thoghts on another beautiful kayak ride today, only to find nasty little ants biting me as we carried the crafts down the path to the water….nasty little things I tell ya, nasty…..not sure what the big splash was but it went from where we had the boats and into the water…..gulp…..gator water….eyes wide open and heart beating like a wildman….nature at its best.