Pantoum
I see why the Karuk created here Earth’s air, water’s fire, soil’s wind, ash’s rain All their materials readily near While Klamath curates floods in her veins
Earth’s soil, air’s wind, fire’s ashes, water’s rain Minerals form, fall, flow rock over rock While Klamath recalls floods forming her veins And geese honk on high flock after flock
Minerals drip-drop-roll rock over rock Steelhead crest the current head over tail Geese honk ever higher flock after flock And herons croak with grandpa-like yells
Steelhead dive down and deep head under tail Red-Tails flicker aloft riding thermals Blue Herons creak-croak their grandpa-like yells And Blue-Bellies hide shine like uncut jewels
Red-Tails fan, flare, flame their own thermals Otters slither and slink like oil in ink Blue-Bellies shine shyly like uncut jewels Burrowed skunks dream dreams of life without stink
Otters dither and sink like writers and ink Tree-frogs give voice to a thousand-strong choir Skunks slowly emerge, tails threatening stink Vultures hover as deathly reminders
Crickets add frogs to their million-strong choir Acorns pitter-patter upon dry leaves Vultures roost near as deathly reminders And doves playact owls as they falsely grieve
An acorn tumbles and crumbles a leaf Which Zephyr sweeps away under moonlight The doves mourn the day with genuine grief As black and white oaks are greyscaled by night
Zephyr gently sings to sleep the moonlight Ponderosas ponder the coming day Madrones gain color with dwindling night The only star left is a Steller’s Jay
As I ponder the river this fall day I see why the Karuk created here Manzanita, Chinook, Black Bear, Scrub Jay All their materials readily near
This article appears in Pretty Disappointing.