youghiogheny river valley
ohiopyle to confluence
feels like a rainforest
each day near the end of july
wet and warm
sporadic rain burst intervals
suddenly on and off
like the monsoons of thailand
the forest canopy dripping
continuously
down to the bicycle trail
whitewater rapids spitting up
circles of fog
drifting then sticking
to the riverbank
a roll of thunder at dusk
echoes
like hollow distant prayer wheels
chasing a family of deer
up through the mountain laurel
up the embankment
to the arms
of mother oak maple poplar
by midnight
the rain finishes tapping
at our mountain tent
our breath
now the mist
--- e b bortz
(published in earth notes and other poems, Least Bittern Books, 2015)
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