Invisible Oceans
“We couldn’t get them to play with these if we were at home,” I remarked, as three, four then five kites launched into the air. Some shaped like dragons, others like parachutes.
Then – in a place known for its wind – the breeze fizzled. They came down. The wishes we had made that morning for the wind to depart had been answered. We got up early and sent the rockets aloft only when stillness in the air meant they would likely return to us.
The children holding the strings ran up and down the road to try and find the wind, catch a draft.
Soon enough, the kites went up and held, catching the slightest of breezes in their paper-thin arms. The kind of breeze unnoticeable but evidently existing in the layers of air above my head.
The kites made those layers visible, colorful and animated. Streamers fluttering, dives performed.
We tied the strings to the car bumper and they stayed up with no help from us.
Only bumping along the waves of invisible air oceans surrounding us all.
Inspired by events in Utah’s West Desert.
Land of the Goshute (Coutsew) and Skull Valley Band of Goshute.