floating the canyon

The canyon's rocks rise up into the sunshine. Happy green plants spring from their contours, waiting for the rainy season. Clouds pass int he sliver of bright blue sky above as I float on my back up the cool river that long ago and ever since has shaped the seats and pockets that we climb on and jump from. Endless adventure lies past every curve, but we only make it so far. Still, this is incredible: swimming and jumping and laughing like children, eyes open to every detail. I wish I could float eternally here, watching the sky change and the spiders pass. From June to October, they say, the water churns and reels far above where we swim now, and people ride the rapids in rafts and PFDs, but I am content here on my back, here in the Rio Coco, here in the canyon in Somoto, Nicaragua.