Sunday, September 28, 2008

To be sealed

Discovery Park reminded me of how beautiful
it is where I live, where I walk
my face in the wind along the glassy stones
smoothed by lapping waves
and wondrous children

beneath the mountains we see it leap
and dive slick-backed into the blue
again and again and again
like a Asian New Year's dragon dance

it is nearly my New Year
behind me a tumbling week of birth, death, wedding celebration.
This is the largest seal
I've ever seen.

from shore I can see the salmon
large and long and limp
in the grip of teeth
and time.

the seal thrashes the fish
so that the water bleeds
red, as I mention it aloud
it is echoed by the children
who build forts at my feet.

we all search
hand over eyebrows
shielding sun, squinting
for a look into this life.

it is
before us
here
now
about to be sealed.

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