Rain into River

Rain into River       by Michael Dylan Welch and Tanya McDonald First published in WA129, Sage Hill Press, 2017, page 145. This anthology of Washington State poets, edited by state poet laureate Tod Marshall, features 129 poems, one for each year of statehood (counting to 2018, when Marshall’s tenure as poet laureate ended). See the book’s contributor list and the book launch video, recorded on 13 April 2017 at the state capitol building in Olympia. This rengay was originally written on 8 November 2008 on the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston, and from there to Port Townsend, Washington.       + dark clouds— the ferry’s wake whitens the ocean                                                                        Michael         between bay and sky         the gold of maple leaves                                                      Tanya pinking sunrise— the jogger’s altered path by the overflowing lake                                                                 Michael rain into river . . . a flash of blue as the ruddy duck dives                                                                Tanya         the puddle muddled         by red rubber boots                                                               Michael silvered with dew, the spider web on a sand pail                                                                                 Tanya