A Staff Trip Poem

Serenity on the Water

The blade of the paddle slides gracefully into the water
Carving into a well-worn path that has been forged many times over
Within seconds it’ll all be washed away
The evidence we were ever here gone forever
The trees are here to bear witness to our journey
As they have done for hundreds of thousands before us
I lean back and gaze at the sky as we glide through the lake
Wondering not what tomorrow will bring or what the rest of the world is arguing about
For now I focus on the clarity and beauty of the moment
Savoring each gust of wind and drop of water
Every little joke and non sequitur
Committing it all to memory before I blink and it all fades away
Leaving me alone against the chaos once again

Written by John Skrip, Kitchen Assistant 2022 while on Staff Trip