COUNTING DOWN TO NONE    

  By Gigi Hansen Matlack

 

In mossy green forests

a mighty river tumbles over rocks

where fish jump high

again and again

flashing their silver sides

sparkling in the sun

 

Along the river shore

natives live in ancient villages

where they use old ways

to catch huge fish 

in pools of turquoise water

a blessed salmon run

 

Roiling river currents

carry young salmon to the ocean

where hungry orcas wait

to feast on salmon

strengthening the pods

sharing with each one

 

Sensing time to spawn

strong salmon struggle upstream

where they lay many

glistening orange eggs

in clean river gravel

returning to their home

 

Pioneers staked claims

building dams on fierce rivers

where salmon were trapped

choking on dirty water

so hard to breathe

longing for the ocean

 

Dams lingered too long

broken idle hazards

where forests were cleared

deer disappeared

fishing memories song

native homes swept away

 

Starving orcas wait

salmon wait too—far from the sea

few fish are found

hunting takes all day

no time for rest

counting orcas down to one.

Then none.

 

Salmon were forgotten

Orcas were forgotten

Forests were forgotten

Natives were forgotten

The future was forsaken.