The Lower Knot

I reached beneath the circular wooden clapper and caught the braided cord dangling below. Sliding both fuzzy hands down the fibers, I lowered my frame until my feet met the teardrop-shaped wooden paddle hanging at the bottom. The suspended sail tilted sharply under my initial weight. I paused, keeping my knees bent, and shifted my stance inward toward the thick retaining knot centered on the wood. As my center of gravity aligned with the suspension line, the tilt flattened out. The wooden pendant settled into an even, gentle drift, swaying quietly above the porch floor.