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Assateague
- Red Hen Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
•74• Assateague I Twiceadaythetideshereriseandfall. Cordgrassbleedstalloverthemarshychannel asthebayfloodshigh,thenrecedesfromthegrassy flats.Eelgrassexhumesinthethickmeadow ofthebayfloor. ItisOctober. Willetsrestbytheinlet’sedgemarkingtheirshore. Diamondbackterrapinpeeroutthetalldune. SpotfishandMummichogleaphigh inthecoolsun,thendivedeepdown tofeedtheiryoung. DespitewhatIthought,Ihavenever beenalone. II Meadowvoleskitterbeneaththefeet dodgingmarshhawkpreyingthedeep Sacredness. Finally,theresheis.Ihavewaitedallmylifeforher tocome.Thelittlebuckskinfeedingonyellowhay. Ihavebeenwellwarnedofherwildness. •75• ButIhavejourneyedbytheworld’sedge toolong,andsoIoffer myhand. Herlipsarecoolandwetlikeasmalllover. Hermane,almostpinkasthesaltmarshhay, feignsundermyfingers.Iwanttoknowherwholly. Ican’tthinkofanythingtodo toloveherenough, andsoIliedown. III Wewalktogetheruntilthewatertakesherindeep forthecoolswim. Shelooksbackonlyonce. Thatwasyearsago. Ihavenevercomeback tomybodyagain. ...