With three weeks and one day remaining before retirement. I have decided to tape a picture to my office door with a bit of free verse. The picture was taken by my daughter on a father-daughter canoe trip. I am at the end of a portage facing away from the camera; the canoe has been reloaded; I am checking the map as an expanse of open water lies before me; the distant shore is just that--distant. My attempt at free verse reads:

a helpful map

a sound canoe

adequate provisions

a strong bow paddler

skills sharpened by experience

i be ready--even if there be dragons!