Driftwood

driftwood, Oregon coast, Humbug Mountain & Moolack Beach









as though
the sound (torn
out of you by the river,
the ice, the black water)
could remake you
transform you
turn you into a salmon
or a bear

and the wind
fits around you
like the trout smooth-gliding
in a deep riffle
at the bend
and the light
has weight and heaviness
like a soft hammer
striking you and blinding

as though
the sound (burned
into the air by the light
reflected off the waterfall)
could maim you
topple you
cast you aside
like driftwood

and the wind
fits around you
like a cascade through the trees,
the heron trying to dance
like the light on the river,
and the light
like a firefly, cool
in the darkness,
remakes you, transforms you,
a salmon, a bear