I知 floating down the Mississippi River
on an inner tube,
all the way from the Twin Cities to
. . .
well, we値l have to wait and see
how far I get.


I知 seeing
animals
at sunset.
Did you know skunks come down to the river to drink
under the cover of darkness?
They池e cute
from a distance, but
don稚 get too close -
they stand up on their hind legs
and hiss at you.


I知 seeing
reflections in the water.
still,
glassy.
Slow moving
for a change.


I知 seeing
dams.
Damn dams.
I have to get out of the water and walk
barefoot
carrying my inner tube
over my shoulder.
like a bandoleer
until I can get back
in the river.


I知 seeing
barges.
Big barges.
A barge is not a thing -
it is a long string of things
being pulled by
another thing
with
a powerful motor.


I知 seeing
a police boat.
Coming
very fast
to chase me down.
They ask me what
the hell
I think
I知 doing.
So,
I知 out of the water,
walking barefoot,
carrying my rubber bandoleer,
waiting until
nightfall
so I can
get back in the water again.


I知 seeing
bridges,
high above me:
Dubuque Bridge,
like the humpback steel skeleton
of a giant
snail.
Savanna Bridge
a graceful arch,
perfect.
I wish I could slow down
and look at it for a while,
but the river is my
chariot,
taking me on,
my horse
not
under my control.
Muscatine Bridge
like six bridges in one
six skeletal steel humps.
Not as pretty.


I知 approaching
a choice,
two Mississippi rivers,
one left,
one right.
I take the wrong choice
right.
Because
more barges,
more complaints about some guy on an inner tube,
in the middle of the river.
Here comes the police boat again.


No more inner tube.
Confiscated
as evidence.
I知 left alone in
Blackhawk Bottoms,
with
no shoes,
no money,
no more Mississippi adventure.
What痴 next?
Can you tell me?