stand on bridge

at spring flood

watch destroyed

lives flow by

mixed with mud

and pond scum

flashing by

see roofs and shingles

arks and doors

trees of birds and squirrels’ nests

a newborn calf

who strayed

watch its mother

exhaust herself

running bellowing

along the shore

watch the future disappear into

swirling eddies

mix and match

debris

before

discarding all

into the purifying

waters of the sea

Beverly E. Kotch is director of program development and workshop moderator for the Long Island Writer’s Guild.she is also mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great-grandmother of what seems like a whole tribe these days.