Leap of fish —
faint slip
of sound as scales
break the surface
pane. Head arcs
toward tail. Petite
armor plates shoot
rainbow sparks. This
ignition of fin to flame can only
happen when, unfiltered
through wet, sun
hits fish-hide.
Is this why
they jump — to hold
perfect form in
light and color
a moment high
in the element of
death for a fish?
Paulette Callen has returned to her home state of South Dakota in retirement, after 30+ years in New York City. Varying degrees of culture shock in both directions — but always, the place she returned to has been made home by a dog.