watching sluice form
from the top
of the dirt-floored
caboose
from the drains
of many rains,
no gauges, rages
a hundred logs together
overhanging, please
no gauges, rages
a hundred logs together
overhanging, please
beware of these;
we’re crossing
we’re crossing
the cross-trees
weak and limber,
raft of timber
the boarded oars,
each log corded
the pins firmly driven
to come apart,
glide off tide—
stumps ragged,
jagged sandstone,
in the head
each log corded
the pins firmly driven
to come apart,
glide off tide—
stumps ragged,
jagged sandstone,
in the head
of the river's bed;
pass the comb
pass the comb
and its cradle
of foam:
darting, starting,
darting, starting,
in a short bend
of river
tuning oars
the shore forks
a cabin meets us
a cabin meets us
here to disappear.
MAGNUSON PARK WALK
In the 40’s the navy turned this park into a military air base
Now it’s a park again
Follow me over the footbridge
Pass the boat launch
Stop
Smell the Scotts Broom
The yellow pollen makes me sneeze
It’s a Class B invasive
On Saturdays volunteers lop it to the ground
Let’s walk again
Head towards the large Douglas fir up ahead
We’re on the remains of Mud Lake
Look across the lake at Moss Bay
You can see the cars going home
Follow the signs that lead through a vehicle underpass
At the end is a concrete hangar
Go inside
It’s nice and cool in here
I came here once with Mark
We crushed the rock beneath our feet
Put your hand on the concrete bulkhead
This used to be a munitions storage building
When people moved to the area the aircraft no longer carried live bombs
CARKEEK PARK WALK
the last pair of spawning salmon was 1927
now they are held in the pond up ahead
it imprints them to the smell of this place
I smell you on my skin
head toward the giant piece of driftwood
there used to be a sawmill on the beach
it burned
fires are still permitted here
now they are held in the pond up ahead
it imprints them to the smell of this place
I smell you on my skin
head toward the giant piece of driftwood
there used to be a sawmill on the beach
it burned
fires are still permitted here
the water is always cold here
I’m sorry I said you were as cold as the Vashon ice sheet
I waited for you in the caretaker’s hut
I’m sorry I said you were as cold as the Vashon ice sheet
I waited for you in the caretaker’s hut
out of guilt
underneath your feet are clam beds
look at the granite and concrete rubble riprap
it protects the shoreline by absorbing the impact of the waves
I am slowly being eroded
look at the granite and concrete rubble riprap
it protects the shoreline by absorbing the impact of the waves
I am slowly being eroded
the green seaweed looks like ribbons
you tied my hands together with ribbon
you tied my hands together with ribbon
there are less snails these days
and the clams are smaller than average
you’re not supposed to take anything home with you
nearly all of the rocks have been overturned
and the clams are smaller than average
you’re not supposed to take anything home with you
nearly all of the rocks have been overturned
ERUPTION OUTAKES
Narrated by buried houses
Smell the bread-crust boulders in the oven
Fresh pumice in the bathroom
There is an impressive increase of houses moving down stream these days
What is a Class B earthquake
Hear the steam puffs set to music
Cattle with ash covered faces eating clean hay
Wash your apples from the ash covered orchards
Warning: escape routes blocked by flaming debris
Portable seismographs
Helicopter landing for scale
Close-up of loggers with prominent bulges (good footage & good shot of eruption)
Make multiple passes around the crater
Live reports of new moss!
Wave goodbye to the camera
ETERNIA
On Eternia, Moss Man is more powerful than He-Man, who runs around in fur panties with his friends. I used to run around the house with my sword, shouting I have the power. My favorite scented action figure, inhale his fresh pine scent—twist his waist and swing his battle club.
Moss Man’s an urban legend, the Eternian equivalent of the Green Man, and his voice was made to sound like that of a typical, friendly farmer—quite natural since he’s a master of plant life—a welcome addition which defines his personality. My father tended a family garden and I was never taught to ask permission to relate to people or nature.
A kind of spirit who looked after the Eternian forest, Moss Man kept it in harmony rescuing others by turning his arms into vines, and by communicating with plants. His rival is Evilseed, a counterpart who wants the plant world to overcome the human world. Evilseed begins his revenge on the Eternians for gorging on plant life, causing plants to come alive and grow dangerously out of control. You hear posturing steps squeezing through mist. We head towards the impinging horizon, his greening voice.
An interesting looking and imposing villain—twist his waist and work his powerful plant arms. It took the combined forces of good and evil to defeat him! He-Man and Skeletor destroyed an ice ball causing it to snow, thus destroying Evilseed. After a while the leaves felt like desiccated violins. This artificial battle we've created between man and nature is one that we can win only if we stop fighting. My hands have the tang of wood, and when I look in your eyes I see a garden of twisted beams.