The Last Salmon - William A. Roecker

[Lawrence Robinson]

The Last Salmon

When the last salmon come home
like Chief Joseph's beaten tribe
gulls will arrive from the dump
as honor must be accorded, and
the sunshine will be dignified
though we love no dead but our own.

>From reserved seats on the dike
we will watch them leaping, see
their darkening flanks like old tires
in the water.  The river will be at low flow
as decreed by the army engineers.  Here
at the rapids the high school band
will cheer, playing the passage
of great fish through the air.

	- William A. Roecker