off the top
of the boat.
We're drifting
in the Saco River
so the kids can swim.
Teenagers Michelle,
Tori, and Ryan
take turns jumping
from as high up
as they can find.
Kylie, seven, wants
to follow. She tip-toes
near the edge, holds
on, bends her knees,
backs away, listens
to encouragement,
tries again, hesitates,
steps back, again,
even sheds a few tears;
she wants this so bad.
She's braver than she
knows, though.
One, two, three....
"I believe I can fly!"
she screams.
And she's airborne.
Success. We all
clap and cheer.
She climbs back
into the boat declaring,
"I'm going again.
I can't believe I was
such a crybaby."
I believe you can
fly, too, Ky!