Between Two Mountains
Written by Rich McBride
at Downtown Hood River
Cherries grow plump on sun-filled days
Fruit tree blooms a carpet of white,
Rolling up the valley in spring
Peaches, pears, grapes and apples
Bounty from dirt and rain
Beside a river between two mountains
Salmon swimming against the current
Blocked by dams, tempted by bait
Hunted by sea lions, trapped in nets
Still some arrive where they were born
Finishing life a perfect circle
In a river between two mountains
Wind driven from the ocean
Blows through the gap pushing water upstream
Windsurfers yield to barges of grain
Huge kites drag tiny pilots to and fro
Geese forage and flock, brood and scatter
On a river between two mountains
Wildflowers bloom and wither
Clouds bring rain, snow, and ice
Waters fall from walls of rock and forest
Snow-capped mountains deny summer heat
Sun, moon and stars keep watch and time
Near a river between two mountains
Rich McBride was born in Kansas 1957, has been drifting west ever since. Served in the Peace Corps; worked in automotive and construction fields; fished for salmon in Bristol Bay, Alaska. Currently writes poetry and music for personal consumption.
