332 miles south, “hundreds of thousands”
of salmon smolts are dying, infested with
drought-enhanced shasta parasites,
and close by Columbia River sockeye,
paused on their upward journey,
chant to us “You’re subsequent. You’re subsequent. You’re subsequent.”
Here in Portland it was 116 degrees June 28
surprising many local weather scientists
and climate forecasters.
Allison Mechanic at katu.com reported
“July 31, 2020, there have been 23 fires
and greater than 40,000 acres burning.”
She contrasted “As of July 31, 2021,
there have been 50 fires
and greater than 20 instances the acreage burning.”
Since 1959, whereas Oregon farmers ploughed and
planted,
males from oil firms
slaughtered future wives and kids.
Whereas trollers I knew joked about mermaids,
enemies in fits invented fracking
poisoning city wells.
Within the sizzling smoky morning,
a dried frog caught in a door jamb
is an omen of larger modifications.
