In 2019, I competed on a competitive dragon boat team. What an adventure! Intense; difficult, and exhilerating (and exhausting). There had to be a poem written as dragon boating is all about poetry (and power) in motion.
Dragon boating is a kinda crazy water race
It’s about power and also about pace
It’s like synchro swimming when one moves as one
Yet in a boat weighing a couple of tons
With heads held high and an A-frame of bodies and arms
There are twenty paddlers flying as in a swarm
It demands technique and that all are fit
And above all else, endurance and true grit.
The caller drums at the front of the boat
The steersperson sets direction and keeps all afloat
The six up front work to set the pace or rate
All others press the catch and can’t be late.
The first call is ‘set’ and as one, all look ahead
With a ‘ready-ready’, nothing more be said
Paddles are in, primed to begin the race
The goal on ‘go’ is to start and end in first place
Reaching over the water, the first five strokes are key
With power together it’s like the parting of the sea
Through an urgent transition, the paddles flash as one
Up to race pace, teams work hard not to be outdone
With pressure and force, the water is displaced
With deliberation the paddlers slowly make haste
The focus is forward, one stroke at a time
With a collective effort, it’s only a small mountain to climb
The race could be 200, 500 or even 2K
With the right mental prep, all will be okay
Striving to do their best while having fun
No matter the result all teams will have won.
The race is over, the paddles are down
One good thing is that no one has drown
With a ‘paddles up’ the boats head in
Another dragon boat race is about to begin.