Coho salmon at end of day

In a collection of fishing boats near Craig, Alaska:

Among the expectant lines
The relentless flow ran in and out
The Summer sun rising and falling
Toward the end of a perfect day,
And we all saw the silver salmon, pink striped
And black speckled, like a puppy.
Playfully flipping, leaping, swimming
Freely up from the chilly water through the cool air.

Sensing his freedom, we shared his joy,
Shared his freedom briefly, a candle flicker moment, then lost it,
Despite our collective wish to capture it, own it in each of our hands:
A hopeless attempt at what we could not grasp.

But we could feel the joy in the experience
And share that brief moment of freedom.
As we chuckled together in the August sunshine.