~ The Salmon River Chronicles (Part II)

face of the deep waters, baby

without form,

fathomless

void

god, moving

mystic mists

twilight

the witching hour

and god said, “let there be steelhead”

and there were steelhead

but no one could catch them

and He saw that the steelhead were good

and god said, “the rest will take care of itself”

“what are you saying?” ask the buddhas

from within the cabin of the jet boat

fogged by sweet smoke

“nothing,” says god, “i was just talking to myself”

“nothing?” repeats the first buddha

all three buddhas start snickering

“steelhead have buddha nature,” say the buddhas

“well, they live in the present moment,

and are mindful only of themselves,

i will say that,” says god

as they approach a class five rapid,

god momentarily slows the jet boat

as He reads the waters

big water

big fucking water

big water forced through

narrow canyon walls

then god surges into the white water

and at full throttle

cuts all the way across

between two rocks,

gigantic, ancient, submerged

and then up again and through

suddenly

still up on plane

they are gliding

on a long slick of smooth water

autumn colors succumb to purple

mourning purple

shadows birthed by steep canyon walls

“when are we going to fish?”

asks the first buddha

“yeah, is this a good spot?

asks the second

“is this where the steelhead dwell?”

ask the third buddha.

up at the helm, god squints around

and takes a long drag

on a slightly damp lucky strike

“how should i know,” says god

“omniscience has its limitations.”

 

off the bow

of a jet sled

on the salmon river

in southern idaho

 

zero image 69

pinhole camera

kodak e100vs

color slide film

image cropped to 15x7

 

Done