29 April

VILLANELLE FROM HELL
1999

"Fourteen days at Slocum Creek
are fourteen days too many," moans
the river, sallow, slack and sick,
"but I am waiting for the dam to break
and will wait 'til time and times are done
if that means fourteen centuries at Slocum Creek."
"I cannot gasp, but if I could, I'd shriek,
squawk, squeal and groan,"
the crappie, sallow, slack, and sick
is rasping as it fishflops down the thick
stagnant soup that it called home
sixty-six years ago, at Slocum Creek.
"This so-called campground sucks."
“That pissoir of a lake.” “Discarded, putrid bovine bones.”
The anglers, sallow, slack and sick
are calling and responding from the wreck
of outdoor recreation. Clowns!
Just fourteen lines describing Slocum Creek
have left me sallow, slack and sick.


Note: Should you be planning a vacation here, a BLM sign at Slocum Creek Campground near Owyhee Reservoir indicates that the overnight camping limit is 14 days.