A beaver lives in a dam
of sticks and mud
mossy in the summer
icy in the winter
dark inside but for a thread
or two, at morning time,
of sunlight (on days with sun)
This beaver
built and is building
this house of sticks
with another,
daily (building a house in running water
is like building on a belt sander;
your every night erodes &
your every day asks anew)
Science does not tell us
of the beavers' dreams
but I do not believe
they spend many thoughts
on the sky scraper they could have
on this very spot, give enough trees and
several month's respite from the always water
or spend many nights in the creaking dark
dwelling on the moment that the river will rise
and send all their branches out like
feathers in a wet wind
A beaver only builds today's dam.