fragment of a morning

fragment of a morning

Jiuxianqiao_2

the little girl was in pink on the bank
with her father holding a shovel
& a small tree. he was telling
her he would plant it
on the river
it would grow
roots in the cool flow
& autumn flower with
stars the sky over
he planted one foot
into the iron boat
that twisted like
its reflection below
twisted & glimmered
he took the oars
that were placed
there years ago
taking the twisting
shell into midstream
the old blue man
was coming with
stick & beard
tracing his song
like a distant
river