20 April 2026

By Philip Kuepper

Just as the two eights
crossed the finish line
neck and neck,
I found myself parallel to them
in my car as I drove River Road.
It was, on my part,
entirely serendipitous,
unaware the race had been scheduled.
I simply happened
to be there at that moment
on my way to work.
The young rowers and the old river
were a dazzle of sunlight,
in this warm as summer April Wednesday,
the rowers exhilarated with exhaustion
at having rowed the course.
How clean and innocent the beauty of it,
untried youth trying themselves
in a sport they embraced embracing them.
And the sprinkling of spectators cheering them.
What a fine song all of them
I saw being composed.

(15 April 2026 2026)