by Charlie Neibel

Created on: April 20, 2008

Silent Air, Canned Heat

the slow pace
of river water
licks at the green shore
a canoe
the length of two grown men
rests
on the dense brush
the crackle of a constant fire
rings through the otherwise
silent air
thickly humid
full of quiet insects

a silence so rich
is cut twice
first by the flame
second by the pull of
rusted hinges
followed by the
heavy slap of
rickety doorframes

the man steps onto the soft soil
ears wait, almost patiently
for the sound of movement
but senses go unsatisfied
as he quickly moves
toward the heat
boy tosses a new log
to the man's hands
a rip breaks the
peace again
both seem to notice

the man examines his
fresh wood
canned heat, he explains
boy, not interested,
wonders to the flow
of rippling tide
observing its leafy reflection
his bare toes
sink deep in brown mud
boy, amused,
lifts his foot
the muck reacts
with it's suck,
loud pop,
boy rinses foot
in the cool water
boy,
look up,
a dark unmanned vessel
slowly drifts past
the no man's land
their no man's land

inspired by childish curiosity
boy launches his body
into the cool blue
the followed splash
surprises the man
who lifts his head
the tide surprises the boy
who is quickly overtaken
whose young body
is left without control
thanks to the effortless water
which tugs and pulls

small head
smacks the dock
the tiny dock
the two had made
together last spring
unconscious boy
body lays limp
under handmade pier
the man arrives
too late
after breathing quits

the man steps aside
boy's body now
lays above the
once entrapping box of wood
and nails
his hair a deep red
legs entranced
intertwined

silence arrives
as his heavy
breath slows
the ever so slight
peaceful erosion
of the tide
and it's brother, land
makes the only audible sound
this low hum
calms the man
all is silent
as the young boy
lays in the man's rough hands
few tears rain
upon the boy
all is silent
the man arrived
too late

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