Shiny, silver, swift, the Oregon sardines
shimmer through fractured, aquatic light
in schools. In schools a diffused light
fans and drifts—strands of water
shimmer through fractured, aquatic light.
The boreal influence may influence just these
fans and drifts—strands of water,
idle and loving, caress the light of sardines.
The boreal influence may influence just these
as twenty southern salmon swim,
idle and loving, in the light of sardines:
the jaw-hook collared swell is strong
as twenty southern salmon swim.
The flashing rips. The scales rise.
The jaw-hook collared swell is strong
in monument to this dizzied light.
The flashing rips. The scales rise
as grandpa drives his old DeSoto.
In monument to this dizzied light
he wades into the river beach, at leisure.
As grandpa drives his old DeSoto
his boyhood spools across his eyes—
he wades into the river beach, at leisure,
but cannot loosen this spillage and debris.
His boyhood spools across his eyes—
shiny, silver, swift. The Oregon sardines
cannot loosen this spillage and debris:
in schools it schools a diffused light.
rdking