snake

i was going down to the dirt river
with adam, and jesse, who was headed that way anyway to catch a fish or two
when i saw you swimming downstream like a bullet
straight for us
how did you get up river so quickly? school had only just let out
and nobody takes their motored boat out on the dirt river on account of that
cockeyed current and the poor visibility, least not with the water as low as it had been that summer
we all yelped and jumped in to catch you
didn't look surprised to see us, but didn't offer no thanks neither
you were still in your school shirt even, which is how i knew you hadn't ditched
when we stood you up and chewed you out you weren't perturbed in the least
just reached into your britches and then for jesse's hand
and closed it tight with a gold coin inside
that quieted adam, who gave you a sideways glance and held out his hand to yours
with which you produced the reddest brick of clay i reckon i've ever seen
all the while paying no mind to any of us, eyes fixed due north of jesse's collar
tracking something or other on the horizon, must have been all the way out near the riverbed
none of us seemed to think it right to follow your gaze
i was real nervous by now because i knew what was going on
but you let me off easy
bent your knees like a frog and took off right past us
i couldn't be too sure what i saw

you weren't in school that week or next
teacher had us write cards to your family and put up some signs
i sure did my best
all the while hoping that i was just wrong about that day
but i hope i never see you again
because if you spot me in that river i reckon you'll have no choice
that is, if you ever caught that big ole wooden vessel i thought i saw you take after
if you ever come hurtling down that dirt river i'll be taking off for good, mordecai
because i'm sure of what i heard
as you launched back into that zipline of a current
i'm certain you know my real name