Salmon, a poem by John Dowling
Malena Marvin
Folks, Eric and I are busy planning out 2016: A YEAR IN FISH, our "catalogue" of oceanic offerings for your dining pleasure. We hope to get that out to you ASAP, but be warned, "business" meetings are staggered between lengthy fiberglassing boat projects, long walks on the beach, and Malena's community volunteerism, which is currently out of hand. In the meantime, like a good joke between songs at a bluegrass show, enjoy what may be the world's best salmon poem (I dare you to pen a competitor!). Authored by my dad's buddy, John Dowling. May we always pause to behold the wild silver miracle that sustains us in Southeast Alaska.
Salmon, a poem by John Dowling
Yes
I am the Goddamned
promise returning
tight bellied
dumb with life.
Murderous and Murdered:
Shrimp
Amphipods
Copepods
Pteropods
Squid
feed my desire
as I am food
for Pollock
Tuna
Swordfish
And Seal
chasing
devouring me
till river mouth
I pause.
Like all others and none
I am fat with life and
fasting
on this long upstream course
pushing
whip tailing
slick rock
roaring water
throwing me back.
Pushing whip tailing
slick rock
roaring water
throwing me back
to resting silver in silver reeds.
I reconsider nothing.
For I am made and unmade.
I am memory mad for this galaxy of autumn leaves
swirling about
above
just beyond my reach.