Players

Mid-summer

river flows furtive

serene beneath

placated rain

―wait and wait―

we tease each other

at cards.

A wily salmon

smuggles head above

transparent ripples,

lures to slip into

yellow gear bail

the boat.

Casting blindly

for camouflaged

teaser, I waiver

in wetness,

angle a leaping

foe who gulps

the air, flashes

silvery vest

against my tug

paired in rain

that anoints us.

Slippery survivor

trumps again.