Sunrise rises exuberance beyond the sky,
a painting, sketched with vibrant gold dye
The starlit Sun stretching it’s radiating arms
reaching up in wake of a new day
The river drifts on and on
unceasing ripples of salty current
The surface, a cracked mirror
reflecting the radiance of dawn
Mullet spring into immediate flight
the desperation, prey’s fight
Pelicans plunging from the heavens
the predators’ ambitious endeavors
The calmness of the mangroves
leaves shifting, breathing in and out
Standing on the tip of the cove
dipping their toes in the salt among the trout
Men hurl out their lines
old and young hoping alike
The river sends out a reply
a rise to the bait, or a lie?
As the Sun dissolves among the sky
The heart of the wild begins to calm
The river is destined to repeat
Go on, and on
—
Preston Kennedy is a ninth-grade honor roll student at West Shore Junior/Senior High School, which is ranked #3 in the state of Florida.
