Either the boat did not wantto be withdrawn from the water,

or the water did not wantto let its new prize go.

Waves of green foamrolled over the railing

in a calm firmness,and the trees cast shadows

on the rippling waterpooling at the edge of

a concrete slab wherea red truck’s wheels

were spinning in the mud.A few more inches

and the rubber would have connectedto the waves bouncing off

the boat’s hull.I sometimes think of life’s

fractions of inchesit reminds me of how closely

life and death are related.I’m thinking now

watching two hawks circlea fraction of an inch

to the leftof the chickens below.