Sunday, December 07, 2014

Free Time – v3

Campsite set
Late afternoon
Late June
Too warm to stop

Grab a friend,
Get the canoe,
Head up the brook
The tributary

Portage through the brush,
Clearing up ahead,
A well of light
Among the birch trees

Break into open,
Unblemished pool
Circled by birch,
by poplar, and fir

Paddle the weeds,
Thick strokes, pole along
Scrape of reeds, of rushes
Push the boughs from our way

A moose chomping ahead,
Oblivious to us, though not stealth,
A shower of stagnant water
From his mouth

His rack with molt
Wet legs, water dripping,
Spindles submerged
In the reeds, the muck

Feather paddles,
Slide forward
Easy, easy, steady,
hush, get the camera…

Too late – A break for the tree line,
Awkward getting out
But silent through the trees
How did he not get caught!


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edited December 7, 2014
Free Time – v3

edited May 28, 2014
Free Time – v2
posted May 24, 2004
Free Time
saved March 26, 2004
about time on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway
summer 1976

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 34,220+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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