River rafting in Montana <br />is a fine way to spend <br />your vacation but it's <br />not the same as <br />river rafting in Zimbabwe. <br />No Sir Ree, Bob! <br /> <br />You can roar down <br />the Zambezi River <br />on a big raft with other <br />tourists hoping <br />to get away from it all <br />in the splendor of Africa. <br /> <br />A thoughtful man, <br />your guide in the Safari hat <br />will explain before you <br />hit the water that your raft <br />will indeed flip over <br />at some point <br /> <br />and when it does <br />he says you shouldn't <br />worry and swim for shore. <br />No Sir Ree, Bob! <br />You should stay right there <br />in the washing machine <br /> <br />of rapids bobbing <br />up and down and wait for <br />the other guide in the Safari hat <br />to pull alongside in his motor boat <br />and pluck you out of the water <br />so you can live <br /> <br />to write something like this. <br />This is what guides <br />on the Zambezi in Zimbabwe <br />do for a living- send you out <br />on a big raft that will flip over <br />so they can save you. <br /> <br />But they're not in a rush <br />because didn't they give you <br />a life jacket and a crash helmet? <br />However, if you're in a hurry <br />to reach land and choose <br />to swim to shore <br /> <br />across the beautiful Zambezi <br />the way you may have swum <br />across a river in Montana <br />you'll discover close to this shore <br />that you are lunch for one <br />of many crocodiles <br /> <br />who wait in the still water <br />six feet or so from shore. <br />The crocodiles make a living <br />waiting for tourists who swim <br />ferociously like Diana Nyad. <br />Two chomps, maybe three <br /> <br />if you're a pleasantly plump fellow, <br />and then digestion begins. <br />You and your crash helmet <br />and your life jacket will <br />need a day or so to <br />convert to crocodile dreck <br /> <br />and dissolve in the Zambezi. <br />Whatever your faith, <br />believe me, it will take effort <br />to re-assemble you <br />in time for the resurrection. <br />Yes Sir Ree, Bob!<br /><br />Donal Mahoney<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/zambezi-in-zimbabwe/
