A Riff on Changing Times (for Norma West Linder)

shorts and sandals on a hot October day
30.1 degrees Celsius
this is a riff on changing times
on changing ways
on changing days

salmon are jumping and people are oohing
the weir too high, they spawn and die
the water runs swift like the beat of a riff
cormorants soar while cascades roar
susurrant, ponderous
these are riffs on changing times

leaves turning gold, a moment to behold
slowly separating from limbs
then letting go
this is the riff of changing times
letting go, saying hello
saying “Hell no, I don’t want to go
but I must”

This is the riff on changing times