Lochsa Morning

Wake to the sound of the river
outside your window,
to the red clouds of dawn.

Since there’s no coffee this morning,
you’ll settle for whiskey
chased down by some beer and a brownie.

Tape up a sparking wire
near the truck’s distributor cap.
Watch a black-tailed ground squirrel
run off with a pine cone.

Yesterday, you saw deer, bear, and elk,
a pair of them crossing the river
just before sunset
up near milepost 143
where you caught that big cutthroat.

Imagine this life is your own life
this day is today.
Go down to the river
and rinse off your face.

Hear it: