Sides of the Lake

Each side of the lake
has a neighborhood.

One has
tall houses,
wraparound decks,
private sheds, docks.

The other has
ranchers, trailers,
kayak racks,
flagpoles.

A motorboat goes by,
with a child in an inflatable tube.

A small boat coasts along the edge.
Three men stand on different sides,
fishing rods in hand.
One waves across the lake
at another boat
with other men doing the same thing.

A child stands on a paddleboard
off the shore of a backyard.
An older woman watches her
from the porch.

Another motorboat zooms by—
faster, a larger wake.
Your kayak rocks.
A single man on board,
music blaring, hair flowing in the wind.