Salmon
In this shallow creek
they flop and writhe forward as the dead
float back toward them. Oh, I know
what I should say: fierce burning in the body
as her eggs burst free, milky cloud
of sperm as he quickens them. I should stand
on the bridge with my camera,
frame the white froth of rapids where one
arcs up for an instant in its final grace.
But I have to go down among
the rocks the glacier left
and squat at the edge of the water
where a stinking pile of them lies,
where one crow balances and sinks
its beak into a gelid eye.
I have to study the small holes
gouged into their skin, their useless gills,
their gowns of black flies. I can't
make them sing. I want to,
but all they do is open
their mouths a little wider
so the water pours in
until I feel like I'm drowning.
On the bridge the tour bus waits
and someone waves, and calls down
It's time, and the current keeps lifting
dirt from the bottom to cover the eggs.
poem by Kim Addonizio
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Part 5 of Trout Fishing in America
WORSEWICK
Worsewick Hot Springs was nothing fancy. Somebody put some
boards across the creek. That was it.
The boards dammed up the creek enough to form a huge
bathtub there, and the creek flowed over the top of the boards,
invited like a postcard to the ocean a thousand miles away.
As I said Worsewick was nothing fancy, not like the
places where the swells go. There were no buildings around.
We saw an old shoe lying by the tub.
The hot springs came down off a hill and where they flowed
there was a bright orange scum through the sagebrush. The
hot springs flowed into the creek right there at the tub and
that' s where it was nice.
We parked our car on the dirt road and went down and took
off our clothes, then we took off the baby's clothes, and the
deerflies had at us until we got into the water, and then they
stopped.
There was a green slime growing around the edges of the
tub and there were dozens of dead fish floating in our bath.
Their bodies had been turned white by death, like frost on
iron doors. Their eyes were large and stiff.
The fish had made the mistake of going down the creek too
far and ending up in hot water, singing, "When you lose your
money, learn to lose."
We played and relaxed in the water. The green slime and
the dead fish played and relaxed with us and flowed out over
us and entwined themselves about us.
Splashing around in that hot water with my woman, I began
to get ideas, as they say. After a while I placed my body in
such a position in the water that the baby could not see my
hard-on.
I did this by going deeper and deeper in the water, like a
dinosaur, and letting the green slime and dead fish cover me
over.
My woman took the baby out of the water and gave her a
bottle and put her back in the car. The baby was tired. It was
really time for her to take a nap.
My woman took a blanket out of the car and covered up the
windows that faced the hot springs. She put the blanket ontop
of the car and then lay rocks on the blanket to hold it in place.
I remember her standing there by the car.
Then she came back to the water, and the deerflies were
at her, and then it was my turn. After a while she said, "I
don't have my diaphragm with me and besides it wouldn't
work in the water, anyway. I think it's a good idea if you
don't come inside me. What do you think?"
I thought this over and said all right. I didn't want any
more kids for a long time. The green slime and dead fish
were all about our bodies.
I remember a dead fish floated under her neck. I waited
for it to come up on the other side, and it came up on the
other side.
Worsewick was nothing fancy.
Then I came, and just cleared her in a split secondlike
an airplane in the movies, pulling out of a nosedive and sail-
ing over the roof of a school.
My sperm came out into the water, unaccustomed to the
light, and instantly it became a misty, stringy kind of thing
and swirled out like a falling star, and I saw a dead fishcome
forward and float into my sperm, bending it in the middle.
His eyes were stiff like iron.
poem by Richard Brautigan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Stone Riddles (Carnivore)
carnivore...
the heart
consumes itself!
revenge...
suicide of
the soul.
bridge...
my body,
your body.
edge...
hard line
we walk!
smoke...
burning leaves,
body time.
need...
i feel
to touch!
picture...
i just
cant taste!
coming...
body waves,
lapping shore.
poetry...
fingers undoing
forbidden buttons.
anguish...
words burning,
your doorstep.
shout...
my heart,
yours deaf!
break...
distance down
by truth.
lover...
shells broken,
eggs running.
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
When you' re weary feeling small
When tears are in your eyes I'll dry them all all
I'm on your side oh when times get rough
And friends just can t be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
When you re down and out
When you re on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you ooh
I'll take your part oh when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Sail on silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh if you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
song performed by by Hear'Say from Popstars
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
When you're weary feeling small
When tears are in your eyes I'll dry them all all
I'm on your side oh when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you ooh
I'll take your part oh when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Sail on silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh if you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Yeah yeah
song performed by by Michael W. Smith
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
When youre weary, feeling small,
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all;
Im on your side. when times get rough
And friends just cant be found,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
When youre down and out,
When youre on the street,
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you.
Ill take your part.
When darkness comes
And pains is all around,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Sail on silvergirl,
Sail on by.
Your time has come to shine.
All your dreams are on their way.
See how they shine.
If you need a friend
Im sailing right behind.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.
song performed by by Paul Simon
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Watson at the British Open
The aging champion kissed its stones
and waved to all his fans.
At Swilcan bridge across the burn,
As twilight fast descends.
No claret Jug for Tom this day.
His Open at its end
Just this final hole to play
As twilight fast descends.
Five times past champion and beloved
He'll not play here again.
He'll cross this bridge for one last time
As twilight fast descends.
His ball arcs up into the sky
And settles on the green
Near Swilcan bridge across the burn
As twilight fast descends
A simple putt for birdie, Tom,
Yours was a fitting end
You went out like a champion
As twilight fast descends.
Tom Watson, a five time winner of the British open played his final round at the old course at St. Andrews this year. While former champions are permitted to play the open until age 65, the Open is not scheduled for St. Andrews again until 2015, when Watson would be 67. The Claret jug is the trophy awarded for winning the British Open. In Scottish, a Burn is a small running creek. Tom Watson failed to make the cut this year but he did Birdie his final hole.
poem by John F. McCullagh
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
When youre weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all
Im on your side
When times get rough and friends just cant be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
When youre down and out
When youre on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
Ill take your part
When darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Sail on silvergirl sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
If you need a friend
Im sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
song performed by by Roy Orbison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
(words & music by paul simon)
When youre weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes I will dry them all
Im on your site, oh, when times get rough
And friends just cant be found
Like a bridge over troubled water,
I will lay me down,
Oh, like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
When youre down and out, when youre on the streets
When evening falls so hard, I will comfort you
Ill take your part when the darkness falls and pain is all around
Yes, like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Oh, like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Sail on, silver girl, sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh, if you need a friend,
Im sailing right behind
Yes, like a bridge over troubled water
I, I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will easy your mind
song performed by by Elvis Presley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Facing The Sun, Late Afternoon
driving back home
at the white bridge
the light of the sun
that later afternoon
blinds me, like
what i feel today
i close my eyes
see shadows
let them all inside
my heart,
i open my eyes
half asleep
letting all the shadows
simmer like
i am a dry earth
receiving a little rain,
thoughts run like water
boredom is the dryness
the ennui
fleeting memories
haunt like thoughts
coming back at me
with swords and scales.
'what am i doing here? '
i stop the car, get out from there
and stand on the side of the
white bridge.
'i am doing nothing'.
the water below is silent.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sinking..
Down in the water
By the edge of the river
where I ponder my life
just how did I get to this
Down in the water
By the edge of the river
where the waterfall of dreams
sweeps away what’s left to the abyss
Down in the water
by the edge of the river
where time stands still
Just only forever.
Down in the water
by the edge of the river
where I buried all
that was ever childhood
Where I let it go,
where it bends and meanders,
twisting along as the years went past.
Seemingly calm, but screaming beneath the surface
were its hidden whirlpools, a sweeping current
Down in the water,
I left the edge of the river,
as I looked down
for my soul at the bottom.
Deep in the water
Swept away by the river
I drowned in life,
......sinking forever.
poem by Deep Dark Soul Poet
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Hen laid eggs
Hen laid an eggs, between legs two,
No small, no big but not in zoo,
Ran after those who made slight dig,
Dog, cat and crow planned very big,
Hen laid eggs……
Hen becomes heroin when find egg,
With big noise run after with one leg,
Even scare pig and allow near no body,
How to protect eggs that is only worry?
Hen laid eggs……
Make no fun when she may have kitten,
Beautiful scene seen when run in garden,
Children love to see and catch with fun,
Prefer little kitten and make gentle run,
Hen laid eggs……
Small kids ask, what will be her task?
How to protect them, by putting a mask?
Often they look at them and draw on page,
night take them all to stay in simple cage,
hen laid eggs……
Papa and mummy, where from kittens came?
Who laid an eggs and how she played game?
Simply they observe and ask funny questions
Why kitten become cock and not small hen?
Hen laid eggs....
What a lovely fun? I couldn’t answer one?
It was more confusing than work undone?
Answered few more questions but not in full,
Avoided by telling you may get it from school
Hen laid eggs.....
How to answer questions? When faced many?
Simple they may look but nature seems funny,
better not answer question any more,
It may not be ending but more and feel bore,
Hen laid eggs......
It is not the hen but cock steals show,
People get irritation when shouts crow,
Kittens and children happy and steadily grow,
Cock serve as alarm when mighty voice blow
Hen laid eggs......
Cocks find preference and first depart,
When runs after hen even looks smart,
Hen not resist when cock’s teasing start,
But end days near when both ways part,
Hen laid eggs......
Story may be funny and more amusing,
Cock and hen story more interest arousing,
Their fight may be limited only for refusing,
Alas! We could learn more and stop abusing,
Hen laid eggs......
poem by Hasmukh Amathalal
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On Passing A Hanging Bridge
on passing a hanging bridge
the sway can be felt
you will be there alone
not in two's
not even to be with the person
you love or your trusted friend
not that there is no valid reason for that
the hanging bridge may feel your weight
and give in and you may fall with it
and die in an instant
there are rules to be borne in mind
you are not suppose to look on either side, left or right
or look downward otherwise you will feel
being sucked by the raging river below you
and then you become nauseous
and then eventually you fall
and then die crashing
on the rocks
i have reflected on it that day after i passed the hanging bridge.
it is like life itself. I must pass alone. I must always look forward.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
(paul simon)
Producer for bonnie: david foster
When youre weary, feelin small
When tears are in your eyes, Ill dry them all
Im on your side. oh, when times get rough
And friends just cant be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
When youre down and out, when youre on the street
When evening falls so hard I will comfort you
Ill take your part. oh, when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Sail on silver girl, sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine. oh, if you need a friend
Im sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
song performed by by Bonnie Tyler
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Am Ready to Jump
My body trembles;
I am ready to jump,
my entire body moves slowly as I take a few steps back,
I run- my arms feel like lead.
As I reach the edge,
I realize this wasn't so smart.
Now as I fall down, down, down,
through the air, I start to cry.
Salty tears slide up into my hair,
the vast body of water looms ever closer;
should I close my eyes?
Surely when I hit the water
I will die instantly.
Or will I find nothing but frothing water
and agonizing pain?
In an instant, I plunge into the icy water,
I'm not dead, I don't feel any pain.
But something keeps pulling me down,
and so I sink into the icy water.
'I'm not ready to die! ' screams a voice in
the back of my head.
And so I try to swim upward,
moving my arms that feel like lead.
No longer am I in a sea of salt and water,
but of porridge;
thick like mud.
So I stoke harder, faster;
going nowhere.
Exausted with fatigue I look for a shore line,
there is nothing but water.
As far as my eyes can see,
there is nothing but water.
And so I give up,
no more trying.
I fall back into the water;
eyes still open, stinging.
I fade into the depths of the water,
praying silently to my God;
singing my last song,
as I start to drift and nod.
poem by Sam Hughff
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To My Daughter
Probably only one memory
Fragile bridge passed the river rapids
The bridge was really glad
when your feet step on
Stand up on top of tweak
Then the longer it confidently
And finally you can run on it
Maybe you're be able to laugh now
But when you were sad
Don't you forget the bridge
Hold -the bridge it was- necessarily
because the bridge, it was me
(2012)
poem by Imam Setiaji Ronoatmojo
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I'll dry them all
I'm on your side, oh, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Sail on, silver girl, sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine....
Ooooh, and if you ever need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.......
song performed by by Tom Jones
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Newcomer
'There's something new in the river,'
The fish said as it swam.
'It's got no scales, no fins and no gills,
And ignores the impassable dam.'
'There's something new in the trees.'
I heard a bloated thrush sing.
'It's got no beak, no claws, and no feathers,
And not even the ghost of a wing.'
'There's something new in the warren,'
Said the rabbit to the doe.
'It's got no fur, no eyes and no paws,
Yet digs further than we dare go.'
'There's something new in the whiteness,'
Said the snow-bright polar bear.
'I saw its shadow on a glacier,
But it left no pawmarks there.'
Through the animal kingdom
The news was spreading fast.
No beak, no claws, no feather,
No scales, no fur, no gills,
It lives in the trees and the water,
In the soil and the snow and the hills,
And it kills and it kills and it kills.
poem by Brian Patten
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Down in the deep water..
Down in the deep water
By the edge of the river
Where I ponder my life
Just how did I get to this
Down in the deep water
By the edge of the river
Where the waterfall of dreams
Sweeps away what’s left to the abyss
Down in the deep water
By the edge of the river
Where time stands still
just only forever.
Down in the deep water
By the edge of the river
Where I buried all
That was ever my childhood
Where I let it go,
Where it bends and meanders,
Twisting along as the years went past.
Seemingly calm, but screaming beneath the surface
Were its hidden whirlpools, a sweeping current
Down in the deep water,
I left the edge of the river,
As I looked down
For my soul at the bottom.
Deep in the deep water
Swept away by the river
I drowned in life,
......Sinking forever.
poem by Deep Dark Soul Poet
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Running Water
Playing around like a clown
I didn't see a puddle of water
on the ground
Falling from the dip
I lost my grip
to face down
water dripping
from my head to my draws
It was like
going down Niagra falls
having a view
of all bodys of water
from the creek, lake, river
ocean and sea
I thought I was watching TV
falling from a tree
to what sudden deepth
wait upon me
A great whale waitting
to eat me
to bones
all of my flesh
all I saw
at bottom was rocks and stones
my blood and chest
The bodys of water
was a total mess
Swirving in and out
to the red sea
the Atlantic Ocean was now upon me
I can barely see
Sliding the crust of the narrow Potomac River
I was thirsty
and ready to drink
only to see trash
passing by
I must think
pushing the water fountain
cloud of dirt
beside Oxon Hill Creek
is there any real water
to drink
I was just running water
in my cell
hurt
hoping for the best
water come clean and fresh
poem by LaRon Green Sr.
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In The Rapids
He dives down into the cold water. at first he is thrown onto the rocks, and pulled under the water by a fast moving channel, which takes him right past john, down river.
Moving down the water
John is drifting out of sight,
Its only at the turning point
That you find out how you fight.
In the cold, feel the cold
All around
And the rush of crashing water
Surrounds me with its sound.
Rael manages to grab a rock, pull himself to the surface and catch his breath. as john is carried past, rael throws himself in again and catches hold of his arm. he knocks john unconscious and t
Ocking themselves together, he rides the rapids into the slow running water, where he can swim to safety.
Striking out to reach you
I cant get through to the other side,
When youre racing in the rapids
Theres only one way, thats to ride.
Taken down, taken down
By the undertow
Im spiralled down the river bed,
My fire is burning low.
Catching hold of a rock thats firm,
Im waiting for john to be carried past.
We hold together, hold together and shoot the rapids fast.
But as he hauls his brothers limp body onto the bank he lies him out and looks hopefully into his eyes for a sign of life. he staggers back in recoil, for staring at him with eyes wide open is
Ohns face - but his own.
And when the waters slow down
The dark and the deep
Have no-one, no-one, no-one, no-one
No-one left to keep.
Hang on john! were out of this at last.
Somethings changed, thats not your face.
Its mine - its mine!
song performed by by Genesis
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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