sit up,
paddles up
ready, ready,
go

the coxswain stands
commanding at once

an excitable
ignition,

a revving
engine room,

and a rallying
turbo

all one with the beat of the
living, breathing drum
as fevered strokes invoked
every motion, with devotion
in keeping with the caution
that the dragon spirit
holds its victory stance
until the horn cries,
finish