The Salmon Underneath the City

What are they doing down there but unsettling me,

swimming through that seamless dark:

passing into the culvert and under the boat shop,

under the Cadillac dealership with its ghost fins.

Under the backyard, under the parking lot

where milk trucks are bedded down with dogs; at night

electricity floods the wires above the chainlink.

And sometimes I study the garden's broken dirt

to detect the groundswell of their passage.

Or I walk out to the cedars where the culvert

feeds them back to Moxlie Creek. But so far,

nothing. Except one I saw leap

from the water in a perfect, frizzled crescent,

there where the stub of silver pipe ungutters

in the bay. The guy who'd hooked it

showed me the telltale black gums in its mouth,

after I'd watched him palm a rock and bring it down

hard on the skull, watched the fish relinquish

then sigh all its living out. That was weeks ago

and ever since I've listened for the wilderness

they make of their compulsion, of their one idea:

Against. Under the milk yard, where the dogs' chops

quiver, and the wires sing with what moves through

and makes them full (on rainy nights,

even the hardware glistens). And sometimes I find myself

stalled under a street lamp, snagged by the curb

like a yellow leaf. Crouched there to look

where a storm grate opens over these dark waters.

From the collection of poems, The Oldest Map with the Name America, by 

Lucia Perillo 

We could get a paypal donation site set up if we can get state non-profit status and elect a board. I am involved with TerraCommons and I think that group would be interested in this project as well. Before we go to the city, the affinity group that we have now needs to turn into a strong coalition with letters of support from individuals and organizations who are supportive.

Is tomorrow night at the Brotherhood still good for people?

talk about opportunities for collaboration, information sharing, research, website, etc. Yes. I'll be waiting out on the patio at 7:00 again tonight looking for moral support.

Chad360, I'd like to hear about the kind of responses you've received from you prospects and what vision you've been describing. If I don't see you this evening, let's set up something. Perhaps we need a better location and time.

Another Olyblogger (flyfreeasabird) said he's been involved with a group with similar interests. Haven't connected with them yet, but would like to if they're interested.

Let's just keep at it, and post anything we learn or decide here until we figure out a better format. Maybe the best way to keep this process open and community driven is to pass everything through the blog. blah blah blah