The Tides 11

Knees spread against the rails, the deep cold surrounds my feet, but weary, I can't be...

"Crossroads of the Aleutian Beast"

Far from the blurry blue horizon,
I await his passing.
My eyes, trained from years on watch,
Pick the good from the weak.

Cold and wet, I straddled the ride,
Bobbing with the whims of Alaskan winds.
Hair plastered to my face
And body tensed for what is to come.

"A peak, a hollow, there to the left!"
I reach forward, pulling the Pacific past me,
Following the current which swims before
The mightiest of Neptune's sons.

He rises on the heels of his brothers --
Towering slope speeding to intercept
The paths of many who would tame him.
Their shouts will go unheeded.

Wit-sparked knowledge he respects.
Abilities are present and understood
Or else you will be lost
In the machinery beneath the blue.

Grit and strength grind my shoulders.
With great heat, I pull.
The beast seeks to break down upon me,
But my ride bites into his face.

To the right, we parry the falls.
I roll, then tuck low to fend off the wash
Chattering across the texture of threats,
The walls crash down, tumbling with haste.

Collapsing in defeat, he spits me forth
Into dazzling sunlighted spray.
I raise my arms to triumphal glory
As we have lived to ride another day.