An old black vulture landed in a tree
overlooking Chickamauga Creek;
gave me a sidelong glance.

I thought of Edward Abbey,
critic of government agencies,
professor and park ranger.

Abbey is buried in an illegal grave;
a cairn of stones covers
his remains.

His friends saw to his request,
wrote on one stone,
“Edward Abbey, no comment.”

The nemesis of Glen Canyon Dam
desired no memorial,
got one anyway.

He always said he’d come back
as a vulture next time,
just seemed fitting.

I looked up into the oak,
said, “Hey there Ed,
looks like a good day for flying.”

Abbey didn’t say a word
just gave me that sidelong look,
the old buzzard.

I climb the limestone stairs
through an arch in rock,
into the earth’s womb,
pass through to a surprise:

George loves Lisa painted on a wall.
I wonder, did he ever tell her?
Did she ever know or think of him,
raise a brood of screaming children?
Did they kiss near wild ginger
above the stony apse?

Did lady’s slipper orchids
adorn their meeting place
where deer drink from rocky cisterns?
Did their love wither like maidenhair fern,
delicate as English Lace?

The symbols have outlived the moment.
There is only today, only
the murmur of water underground,
my finding one trickle into a pool.

I never knew this George or Lisa.
The rock bears their names in silence,
names the stream forgot long ago.

This message brought to you
By the Tennessee Valley Authority
By business, industry, and government
By progress, prosperity and jobs

Mercury
It’s an element
It’s a metal
It’s a liquid
It’s toxic

Mercury
It’s a capsule
Launched into space
To splash down
In the Pacific Ocean

Alan Shepherd rode the first
Mercury
Capsule into space
Splashed down in
The pages of history books

Tennessee River waters contain
Mercury
Not the space capsule
But the element
It’s a metal
It’s a liquid
It’s toxic

Tennessee River fish contain
Mercury
Not the space capsule
But the element
It’s a metal
It’s a liquid
It’s toxic

Pregnant women
should not eat
these fish

Nursing mothers
Should not eat
These fish

Children
Should not eat
These fish

Adult males
May eat
These fish

Women past child bearing age
May eat
These fish

Elderly people
Are encouraged to eat
These fish

Homeless people
Are required to eat
These fish

That is all
Have a nice day

Words to the future
Dry phrases among the sand
Where we come ashore