Watching Water

There is something
calming about watching
water with its algae-emerald
cast and so clear that
you see clusters of
dogpaddling turtles
circling each other with
no particular purpose
except to circle, then
gliding off in search of
new meanders; catfish
so large they look like
those prehistoric fish
netted up by
Japanese whalers; and
flows of wind sheening
across the surface
like silver knives.


Poem composed 10/2/10 on the balcony of the Great Room at Laity Lodge, near Kerrville, Texas. Submitted for One Shot Wednesday at One Stop Poetry.

Photograph: The Frio River, taken from the Circuit Bluff Trail, Laity Lodge, courtesy of my cell phone.