Salmon Defeat Poem by Deanna Samuels

It has been a little sad these last few days.
A trike ride along the path behind the house
has given witness to salmon swimming upstream
and for many, their unhappy ending in their task

With very little rain over last few weeks
Farewell Creek has become unusually shallow
thus, impeding the upstream migration of
adult salmon in reaching freshwater destination

It is heart sickening seeing these large salmon,
trying to swim over pebbles in a few inches of water
and then brave the next upcoming barrier of rocks
with very little water cascading over to help jump over

Too many have died in their brave attempt
and now float about, alongside the river banks,
their three-foot lengths beginning to decompose,
the air around heavy with rotting odors

Our trike rides are sad to witness such scenes
knowing there is nothing we can do to assist,
only hoping as many of these magnificent fish
reach their goal to spawn, though then, naturally die


Seen and then written following trike ride on path behind the house - Courtice, Ontario - 6th October 2026