The path along the south bank
of the Rogue
keeps well above the river
winds through stands of oak
vine maple and madrone
sword fern and bracken
grace the trail
on both uphill
and downhill sides
it's steep enough
to keep the dogs from running
after squirrels or following
the scent left by a deer

Two miles of gentle trecking
and you're there
an eight foot drop
the river plunging over rocks
into a swirling pool of frothy white
at high water the sound
drowns out your thought
but it's the salmon leaping
against the flow
and falling back to leap
and leap again
that makes your memory
of the scene so vivid