of natural rivers
destroyed
stained
with the ghosts
of salmon
harbingers
of human disregard
for nature
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Bones Of Rivers
of natural rivers
destroyed
of natural rivers
destroyed
of natural rivers
destroyed
This is so sparse, and so effective. It’s like the skeleton of a poem – everything unnecessary stripped away.
What more needs be said, the ecological failings are everywhere. I am pleased you liked this SM… 🙂
Wonderful writing! Love the second stanza. Nicely crafted.
Thank you Susan, very much!
Nice description of being stained with ghosts.
Glad you liked it Frank.
Sad..can relate here in PNW..pollution & not enough salmon for local whales.
Thank you for visiting my blog Kathy. My wife snd I lived in Oregon, in the Cascade foothills east of Portland for 35 years. Now in Seattle area 3-1/2 years, on NE side of Lake Washington, above St Edwards Park. I am 72 in 3 weeks. Beatles are one of my favorite bands. My kids took me to see Cirque du Soleil’s “Love” in Las Vegas for my 64th birthday. Wow, that was 8 years ago. Wife and I sell our art every year in August at the Anacortes Arts Festival. We stay in Oak Harbor every year for the show, driving over the amazing Deception Pass to and from our art booth each day. We love north Whidbey Island!
This is so sad, but so well said. “Stained with the ghosts of salmon”–it conjures up a whole history there.
Thank you for reading and commenting Merril! The impact on the PacNW Native American (First People) tribes of this region, on their culture and food source has been significant. As the Salmon populations dwindle there is also impact on other marine life, such as Orca whales who are dependent on salmon in their diet. The debate continues, with some influential groups calling for the removal of some dams. People are trying to solve this significant PacNW issue, but the fact that the effort is coming after two species of salmon being placed on endagered species, shows that historically the modern human’s consciences regarding our impact on the natural world is still lacking, or at best, lagging behind in focusing on the question of, “just because we can, does that mean we should?”
a sad sad truth
Yes it is Gina, and sadly indicative of modern human’s poor grasp on their position in, and responsibility for, the natural world. We have carelessly created many natural imbalances that are coming back to haunt, even threaten us.
I wish more poets would write in these skeletal poems. So effective nstead of the on and on and on about the plight of something or other. Your brief poem most effectively made me feel the ghosts of these dead salmon and in turn, the starving orca.
Glad you liked this Toni. Sometimes the less, more pointed pieces are the best for pure impact. Sometimes, especially if you are trying to enlist someone’s enrollment in the gist of your poem, a bit more presentation is required. In this situation, I went for the short, not so sweet! 🙂