The Salmon Run

The Silver ripples of the stream
passed beaneath me undisturbed
when suddenly they parted
and a little body curved.

The sides were scarred and bruised
it was a salmon on the run.
its mind was fixed to just one thought
a task that was yet undone.

Its body swerved in mindless pain
as it hit a fallen tree
while the current flowed relentlessly
on the path toward the sea.

I wondered why it fought so hard
as it tried to make a leap
at least a dozen times in vain
and was dragged back with one sweep.

As if in answer my gaze was drawn
where two fish had tried to hide
they seemed to have given up at last
but they had spawned and died.