What Padden Creek Means to Me

A place where I examine
my place in the world,

the lessons of water,

the promise of return,
and broken promises

the ebb and flow of ideas
of progress, industrialization
and deindustrialization

rails-to-trails

a Depression-era bridge
finished in 1932

a wildlife corridor

the imperatives of life
the imperative of feather, fur, scale

a Caretaker’s house
and the imperative of taking care

the imperative of shepherding
for all, including all creatures
and all nations

the blending of cycles:
fresh water and salt, iron and blood

a dead raccoon, how dogs
insist on nosing the ruin

a place of solace and peace,
often a place of semi-quiet

a place I go to lessen
occasional depression,
setbacks, feelings of defeat

nature enduring
despite inexplicable litter,
clots of tan foam in the water

my green, treed, watery muse

~*~

Andrew Shattuck McBride
NaPoWriMo 2014 ~ Day 6