Morning River

Dimpled autumn steel
Cold as bright truth
In morning sun
Birds swim and catch fish
Just off the shore
On this proud river
Cormorants and grebes
Ducks and geese
All seem to enjoy
A last summer day
That leaves sand bars
Too bright to look at
While the sun sits
Low and bright
In the frozen sky
Behind clam siphons
And boxes and logs
That are ½ washed into
Wet and muddy river bars
Glistening bright
Along the river’s margin
In the morning sun