Fade: A Surfing Poem

Fade by Philip Scott Wikel

A Surfing Poem

knowing the wave

so well as

to turn left

and fade

on a right breaking face

knowing

drop knee turn

in the trough

and pulling the rail high

and toward trim,

a clean line

and a rocket sleigh ride through the section

knowing

the elasticity of a rubber band and

the distance it can stretch

before it breaks

knowing

the elasticity of life

and pushing

‘til you know

enough

and when

to pull the rail toward perfect trim