canoe #1

lewis &
clarked my way from indian
caves
to cherry county,
swindling along the big dirty missouri
stay
as far away from the iowan banks as possible
catfish salt, bottom feeder
under the nose when i hear those riverboats whistle
come hither
dear gambler
the pearly gates are open wide

canoe #2

bending my near broken buffalo collar
bone down the winding
niobrara
she lays lady finger
between each western rib.
my skin ripples
in pond
telling me which water snake will bite
my face sweet & lonesome
beneath an other-
worldly sun tanning my hide
naked in a boat