River

by g emil reutter

Wind blows west to east
tide of river rises
Sun still as clouds pass
wrought iron fence sits
atop retaining wall
where he stands, cups hands
looks upon waters glare
as Seagulls rest on the
nubs of abandoned pilings

Wind churns along non
existent railroad tracks to
the crossing  sign whose
warning lights no longer blink
as the diminished totem pole
stares blankly at the river
named for a people who
grow fainter each day.

Wind rustles blades of grass
pulls at succulent leaves of
trees that refuse to let go
as the tide goes out crumbling
steps lead to the pebble beach
of another era relinquished to
the squawking of the gulls.