The Hudson | Teen Ink

The Hudson MAG

July 19, 2009
By babe892 GOLD, Suffern, New York
babe892 GOLD, Suffern, New York
15 articles 6 photos 10 comments

I remember
being 10 years old,
and laughing idly with a friend,
being tugged along the back of her father's boat on a raft,
flying high upon the mighty Hudson
our freshwater wet hair dripping down
our backs,
our skin painted red by the sun,
the rest of them looking on at us, smiling, snapping photographs.
But the boat went too fast,
we fell off our little float,
treading viciously to keep our heads above the water,
years of swimming lessons escaping us,
the waves covering our heads, pulling us downward.
Suddenly I hated the river,
the Hudson that swallowed me whole,
and I remembered its murkiness,
forcing myself to be disgusted by it,
resenting it for its willingness to take me.
When we made it back onto the boat,
warm, ensconced in towels, fed by the kisses of our mothers,
I was shaken by my failure,
the betrayal of a water I found beautiful,
the way my heart raced confusedly in attempt to save itself.
Now we are estranged friends,
though I still live in its valley,
and somehow, I could not shake the feeling
the burn in my heart, the knot in my stomach, the constant worry in my mind,
until I realized
it was not the river's fault.


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This article has 2 comments.


skstorc BRONZE said...
on Jan. 29 2010 at 12:48 pm
skstorc BRONZE, Port Orange, Florida
3 articles 0 photos 10 comments

Favorite Quote:
\"You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have left.\"

i agree 100% of Jennax3 i saw it happening in my head! amazing work

Jennax3 SILVER said...
on Aug. 20 2009 at 11:47 pm
Jennax3 SILVER, Palos Verdes Estates, California
6 articles 0 photos 113 comments
Truly a masterpiece. It tells a story, which I love in poetry. The way you have written this paints a vivid picture in my head, and I can actually see it happening!