On The Little Nestucca Poem by JDC LeDrew

We shared the river late in fall.
We three went down to heed the call,
Of he that dresses white and blue,
A fellow fisher through and through.

His cry is not a lovely thing,
But hearing it did pleasure bring.
And as we three discerned the notes
We came with poles and wicker totes.

Down to the stream where the white foam flies,
Where green waters roll and the steelhead hides.
Till the Kingfisher's call left us to pause
At the head of a raging, rapid's jaws.

So there we stopped, but no one spoke.
We shared the fog like a communal cloak.
To each his own came private thoughts
For company, while we tied our knots.

And no one seemed to think it strange
When quite unspoken we arranged,
To fade like characters in a dream.
Leave each alone to walk the stream.

Up and down the fisher flew
To visit me, and the other two.
And from his tone I think I guessed
He thought my fishing site the best.

I saw the leafless winter trees
Whose clutching roots like warriors seized,
The brown earth 'long the battle shore
As each one vowed to yield no more.

And here I met my river hosts
The ones that I've enjoyed the most,
Of any I have ever known
That claim the river's edge their home.

While I stood still upon the sand
Motionless, with rod in hand,
I watched the otters as they dove
For breakfast in their river cove.

I watched them roll and groom and play
And go about their otter day.
Play hide-and-seek around their home,
Play tag with bits of Styrofoam.

So hours flashed, took-wing and flew.
So quick they passed I scarcely knew.
I left them with a wordless wave,
Grateful for the joy they gave.

Then wound my way back up the banks
My spirits high, heart filled with thanks,
That fortune cast such luck my way
To see the river otters play.

And found the two and felt no loss
When admiring silver, on green moss.
And as they bragged about their prize
I praised them on its length and size.

And I know they were sad for me
When evening sent us home, we three...
But when we left the river loam,
I took an otter memory home.