The Arc of a Goddess

She leads her life
As she swims through waves.
As if she is water.

Pouring herself out
In raging torrents, crashing,
Flowing with all the force of natural grace.

As if her attack on life
Is a force of nature.
Impatient. Inexorable. Relentless.

Like gravity.
Like water
Seeking level ground.

All white caps and chaos one instant.
Then a limpid pool,
Reflective as glass.

When I remember her,
I will remember the arc
In the small of her back,

As she kicked into the wave,
In one fluid movement, like a dolphin.
Or a mermaid. Or a goddess of the sea.

No creature was ever lovelier
Or more perfectly,
Naturally at home.

-- For CJ, remembering her diving in La Jolla in early July while flying into PWM 07/30/2006 2020 hours