Cherry Point

The edge of America

is not where you think it is.

The ellipsis at the end of the phrase
Manifest Destiny
is set by a Washington bay
off Cherry Point,
at a tired green house,
built in 1974
for small vacations.


A family's niche for open flame,
hot dogs and Kokanee
lush and lazy summer smiles,
cast in an easy light


that's utterly unlike
the lighting ambient
of refinery, oil barge,
and defunct paper mill.


The Puget Sound itself
is stubborn as Mica Schist,
but alive.
From thin veil
behind one-way mirrored glass,
She speaks of what we find
at humanity's razor edge,
"More life, more life, more life!"


Published by Mouse Tales Press.