Campbell Creek, August 5th

they are there when you stop

and watch clear water’s choreography

across multitude of patterned rock.

rippling length of crimson flashes

in pulsating current, thick as logs

but supple and swaying, the darker

tails waving side to side just enough

to stay in place. red swaths reveal

and disappear, one then another

then a line of five or more strung

like rubies light and dark shadow lilt

with one quick flick red rippling dissipates

then reappears against the shore

or limber in lines along a fallen tree. big

red muscles beating back up what as

fingerlings they each swept down now

the laboring push, the urgent

flame daubed dark swaying curves

tinged now late summer white tips

reminding mountains what will come.

five years of deep sea to return,

arrow-straight swim hundreds of ocean miles,

to this shallow stream fins slicing surface

frosted with their termination dust,

tails singing strong upcurrent as streaming

bodies pull them, fits and starts,

downriver, back to the orchestral sea.