we are marginal creatures
vulnerable
bay becomes laguna morta
silted
fishing for
becomes
finding the
village
at Rieck's Lake in Wisconsin
between Alma and Iowa
swans become burr weed
burr weed wanes, arrowhead tubers
stretch lovely necks skyward
usage neither interchangeable nor static
here a cist a barrow a grassy mound
in stones trees
but in trees
an incursion of owls
hunting by day
listening
listening
