Rick's Poetry: King for a Day

King for a Day
(c) May 2, 2001

Here I lie so lazily
soaking up the sun
waiting for the special set
to give my board a run

I won't ride just any wave
it has to be just right
I've got to showoff for the girls
to get a date tonight

I see the giant rising
it's a killer I can tell
quickly start my paddle
and get lined up to ride the swell

I jump up and it's colosal
well over nine feet tall
this wave will make me famous
hope I don't crash and fall

This is way too radical
the best ride of my life
I'll take it to the tube
drop in and keep it tight

A better wave I've never cut
I'll pump it to the shore
Ask Suzy to the dance tonight
then paddle out for more

Sitting proud upon my board
raking in the rays
I've never been so popular
I'm King of Surf today

by Ricky D. McKean

Rick McKean (1962-2011)

Rick McKean graduated a track star from Capital High School in Boise, Idaho. After serving in the U.S. Navy with the construction batallion and operating heavy machinery, and time in abroad in Guam, Rick was honorably discharged and took residence in Oxnard, California, near the naval base.

After working several years in various trades, including light aircraft maintenance, locksmith and auto repair, Rick worked for a paper pulp recycling plant in Oxnard until the late 90s. Expressing his love for the ocean, and despite physical limitations, he took up scuba diving and enjoyed good times with friends exploring the Channel Islands off the Ventura coastline. Rick suffered from depression and alcoholism.

The poetry on this site was written in 2001-2002 while an inmate at California Correctional Facility, Salinas, California. After parole, Rick again took residence in Oxnard, purchased a boat, and lived on the water in Channel Islands Harbor. Continuing his appreciation of nature and the environment, Rick worked in harbor maintenance, patrolling the harbor and collecting/dislodging debris that had washed in from sea.

Rick continued to live on his boat and attend AA meetings and treatment programs, and eventually was issued a driver's license and bought a car. In 2010, he drove his car to his home state of Idaho and visited his family whom he had not seen in many years. Despite numerous physicial limitations, Rick continued to live his life to the fullest extent, including handling nearly all of the maintnenance of his boat/home.

In late 2010, Rick bought a new computer, with the intention to publish these poems online. In January of 2011, Rick suffered an untimely death where he sustained a head injury repairing his boat, lost balance, and fell into the water, and succombed to the cold temperatures.

This blog contains Rick's Poetry.

(c) Ricky Dale McKean 2001, 2001

Rick's Poetry

King for a Day - May 2, 2001

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