May 27*

first weekend of halibut season
flat tides all day
perfect water

brine the horse herring
collect the heavy gear
prime the vision of outer hein bank

up at 4:30, checking marine weather
“small craft advisory”
sustained 27 knot wind at smith island

i wander about all day
landlocked
aimless

*Copyright 2010 by Luther Allen. This poem appears in The View from Lummi Island.
—–
Smith Island photo