earth note 60

monongahela river

twenty geese mostly white
some blended gray
run the shoreline
three pairs of mallards
plus an odd male left out
twisting his deep green collar
polished like a loner's vanity
a cagey squirrel closes his eyes
throws his head back
maybe a shot of high test
brown river

bubbly wake
rushing out the rear of a jet-ski slasher
splitting the water with the rage of a sawmill

a malamute's wild barking protest
is swallowed below the shrill
a willow weeps
echoes

--- e b bortz