SWIMMING UPSTREAM

YOU NEVER KNOW
WHAT LIES BEYOND
GATED WIRE FENCES
AND THE DANGER
ZONE
UNTIL ALL BARRIERS
ARE OPEN WIDE
AND SUDDENLY THE
SILVER FINS
HAVE NO PLACE
TO HIDE
IN A RIVER OF
HUGE
PROPORTIONS
RUSHING PAST
WITH SALMON
AND TROUT
COMING ABOUT
SWIMMING
UPSTREAM
IN THE FABULOUS
DREAM
OF PROCREATING
THE SPECIES,
RUSHING FAST
FORWARD
STRUGGLING
JUGGLING
DIVING
LOOPING
UNDER THE
WAVES,
WHILE HUGE
WIRE NETS
MAKE THEM
ALL KINDRED
SLAVES:
A HIGH
SEARCHING
TOWER MARKS
THE PROGRESS
(NOT THE
SADNESS),
THESE GUYS ARE
ON THEIR
WAY OUT,
GIVEN NO DOUBT
BY THE OFFICIALS
AND BADGES
AND WHISTLES
WHO WATCH
CAREFULLY
(THEY SEE YOU
AND ME),
HANGING OVER
THE WIRED FENCE
TO SHOOT
A PICTURE
OF CONSEQUENCE,

WHILE KIDS ROMP
ALONG
BELIEVING THE SONG
THAT ALL ENDS WELL
IT’S A TOUGH GUY’S
SELL,
FOR WHEN YOU
REACH THE
VERY LAST
GATE
WHERE THEY
GATHER IN CIRCLES
AND FINALLY
WAIT,
THE SILENCE BECOMES
LIKE A FAST BEATING
DRUM:
BEWARE
OUT THERE
FOR YOU MAY
BE NEXT,
LIMITING PLANS
FOR YOUR POPULAR
TEXT,
AND JUST LIKE
THE FISH
WHO FOLLOW
THE PATH
THE END IS
IN FRONT OF YOU,
COMING IN RESIDUE
DOWN THE MOUNTAIN
AND ACROSS THE
STREAM,
YOU MAY BE
THE TROUT
IN GOD’S FARCIAL
SCHEME,
SO SINCE NOTHING
LASTS
FOREVER,
SHINE ON
BABY:
IT’S NOW
OR NEVER!

©J.W. WINSLOW 12/1/17