The Mysterious Incident of Salmon during Autumn-time

October, Annual Sockeye Salmon Run, Adam's River, BC Canada 

This river is our primal mother

She beckons to us every year to spawn 

from Pacific Ocean, we hear her call like no other

We swim upstream against the swift waters

circling mountains to age-old forests drawn

by this river, she is our primal mother

Here, the mule deers & black bears wander 

Here, bald eagles & ospreys fly high, we return

from Pacific Ocean, we hear her call like no other

Coloring our skin red & roboust as summer

Into her arms, we lay down our heads come dawn

This river is our primal mother

She, who nourishes our offspring under

wise eyes of cottonwood trees.  She, whom we lean on-

from Pacific Ocean, we hear her call like no other

Gathered in one kinship, my brothers & sisters

hear the same natal beat pushing us on 

To this river, our primal mother

from Pacific Ocean, we hear her call like no other

The Adams River run occurs every year, but every fourth year (called a "dominant" year), the numbers are much higher. 2010 was the most recent dominant run. According to Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Fraser River sockeye run of 2010 was the largest since 1913, numbering an estimated 34 million fish.

Posted for Imaginary Garden for Real Toads - Mini-Challenge by Kerry - In other words
and Poets United - Thanks for the visit ~ 

Photo credit:   here