Oh I will be talking to that taunting catfish again. I will I will I will. In the long evening after the cruise, the day’s last light going to bed west of the L&N bridge, smoking my pipe, clearing my mind of everything except trying to trick that mud eater into remaining uncaught until I can get my fishing pole.
Category Archives: river life
“in our talons*”
The blue heron dances with her reflection on the long brown water, south to north under a dull, refracted light cast from a sky full of rain heavy clouds. As I walk onto the wharf, a common grackle glides to a halt, nods– spreads wings to the wet breeze.
The last song playing on the radio is still singing in my head. A dark hymnal that hums of the Ohio River Valley Gothic, and I see a mirror of me in long brown water.
(* inspired in part by a song by Bowerbirds)
Untitled Series 1 (2024) 27-29
27.
most days Fool’s energy runs the machine
few understand the divinity in such a statement
go ask the wharf possum and salamander
28.
lie in this lingering morning
release and float
this dream current lasts
only as long as the water
29.
accompanied by yesterevening’s coffee, a fresh pipe
the morning breeze, and birdsong sing
I count the new dandelions and yellow ciniquefoil
beauty: and in the distance, sirens
River City Mick 