he crosses the creek running through town  probably    eight ten times a week

its flow is diminishing

                         he lives in California they had a miserable winter  lousy rainfall

not two months ago the water ran from bank to bank

                                                          now

its reduced to serpentine tendrils of creeping water

when he crosses over it he cant help but stop  and admire

where hes from the Midwest   the rivers were always full

                                                                  now

if only they werent polluted

as a kid he swam in them

by his late teens

                    swimming would likely peel his skin or at least have a depilatory effect

used to fish too

 

    fish

              the creek

he keeps his eyeballs peeled

                                 enjoys the ducks the egrets herons cranes that stride ankledeep if they did in the water

from the four bridges that cross it he looks down into the water

                                                                   admires beneath the reflected blue sky the silver fries

it occurred to him todaymade him catch his breath

                                                              when the water ceases    

   the fries are going to fry

1315,  reggaefriday,  15  5. 26