Salmon Bridge Poem by Neethu Prasanna

Splaying up the tardy fins, darting off the daring waves,
All above the waterfalls, I jump with a mighty crave;

Struggle for the olden stream, striving for its lusty snuggle,
I duck to feel my dream and that makes this happy guggle;

Started as a splendid group, until turbine killed the rest,
I am now the only one, heading to the pacific west;

Looking for the gold riffles until native algae would stop;
To find the pebbles which gave, my dying parents a prop;

I know the smell of white oak, also the big black spruce
And the kid who used to smile and stare as if I was abstruse;

Isn't this that hanging bridge, under the shade I was born,
Where the heart twitched you to, till the salmon smolt was on?

I won't find a better place, no one will than his birth place,
For your roots can't run with you, even if you go on race;

People are a crowd, last time also saw them on board,
May be earth is filled by them, looking down for new abode?

I look above the same bridge, finding the white boy grown
Mom is still the same, but dad is new as the old did drown?

Boy looks gloomy, though mom is hugging her new date,
I finish with my only mate, they go hunting for a flawless mate;

I swim to boulders with my mate and cobbles too as we drool,
We are in love, with each other and this marveling pool;

For one more time I warm the eggs, covered in the milky milt,
I muffle them up in gravel, to guard my unborns from silt;

My eyes stretch to see the sky, before I may not open again,
Rain drops drizzle above me, dissolving me in this terrain..