Royal Canoe plays with the WSO

paddle dips

rhythmically surely joyfully

into glassy orchestral lake and you

pull forward into

lilting straights

surreal waters

crowns on your heads

beaded with jewels and sweat

sun pulsing sweet electric melody

working its way into the

tough skin and marrow-filled

bones of vision and memory and we

bow slightly

dancing in recognition of this adventurous voyageur monarchy

red sashes fluttering

Roger climbs stairs

it’s a stage I guess

this overwhelming joy in stairs

sometimes alone

and sometimes holding our hands

taking two at a time

in a rush to get to the top

then turn right around

and go back down

lifting arms up

in expectation of adult hand

we can try to lead him

to the sidewalk or park

but the concrete steps

magnet him and he climbs again

sometimes a dog distracts

and he barks in recognition bowwow

but mostly it’s the stairs

his body a stair machine

obsessed with the climb

as brain sparks bedazzle with toddler wonder