Hair, wet from the plunge,
sends rivulets down my face,
carrying stress to the depths of the lake.

Sun warms my shoulders
as freckles rush to dot
once pale skin.

The bright orange
of the life jacket
seems out of place
atop the blue green of the water
as it bobs under my head.

My body floats --
effortlessly --
on the calm surface.

A cold beer in my hand
lifts in salute
as Jimmy Buffet sings about
the son of a son of a sailor
from the boat anchored nearby.

My friends, similarly adrift,
laugh and splash,
co-conspirators in the stolen afternoon.

Duties left undone at the office
do not burden us as we revel in the freedom
of the water and camaraderie.

The work can wait,
life must be celebrated
while the sun shines.