The Salmon Illumination

poem

---

I didn’t catch this salmon—
Didn’t stand on the ladder
With spear and net, and snare it
Like my ancestors did
For millennia. I bought this holy

Fish at the supermarket.
I cook it on the stovetop 
Along with asparagus. 
I’m feeding my family.
This doesn’t feel as magical

As it should. Then again,
I doubt my ancestors believed
That every moment
Was magical. Today, I sing
For all those moments

When one of my ancestors
Was asked what they thought
Of some current event
And all they did was shrug.
O, the beautiful shrug.

O, the lift of shoulders
Toward the sky. O, the tilt
Of head to left or right.
O, the slightly curled lip
And raised eyebrows.

O, the joy of abstaining.
O, the joy of dispassion.
O, the joy of removing yourself
From the equation. O, the joy
Of eating a simple dinner

Of salmon and asparagus 
With the ones you love the most.
A dinner where nobody said
Anything of note. A dinner
Where nobody campaigned

For your vote. A dinner where
You cleaned the table, loaded
The dishwasher, kissed your wife,
Then, loving and loved, fell asleep
Beneath the reading light.