Marc Swan

Marc Swan lives in Portland, Maine. Poems are recently published or forthcoming in Poet Lore, Chiron Review, The Antigonish Review, Gargoyle, Poetry New Zealand, Nerve Cowboy, Toad Suck Review, Westerly, among others. Tall-Lighthouse Press in London, England published his last two poetry collections: In a Distinct Minor Key (2007) and Simple Distraction (2009).

Slack Tide

When tide rises over red clay flats
of McCann Cove
after six hours falling—
the cycle of water life—
there’s a time of stillness.

A few crows caw,
the occasional gull
drops low for a quick bite
then up again in flight.

I imagine a Passamaquoddy
in an open boat
paddling easily over rippling water,
wind at his back,

no mowers,
weedwackers,
wankers in lounge chairs—
gin and tonics

or scotch on the rocks in hand—
laughing at their own jokes,
watching from promenades
off stately mansions on the shore.

Just a lone man in a handmade canoe
moving into gathering dusk,
maybe thinking
of the basket of steamers
he harvested

or the striper he speared
with one quick thrust
or being home
with his family
just a few strokes away.