Torch Lake - Passing On the Torch
He walked up from the lake
Throwing open the door of the glorious day
Like a smiling OB-GYN snapping off his gloves
With a toolbox in hand
Delivered to my dad the good news.
“I’m certain this new ignition will take care of it
This time.”
My old dad said to the boat guy
I hope we can still get a few more years
Out of her.
The boat had become mainly show for us
Suspended in its hand-cranked metal cradle
Propeller crying
Like a pinwheel held in a hand of gale
Boat broke down summer after summer
Amongst the new Lear jets
Parked up and down the lake in solar-powered hoists
All the way to Sandy Pointe
We pretend it doesn’t matter
Swimming here
Is better than at the Sandbar or Cove
I swim deep
A shadow sprawled
Along the sun-refracted sandy bottom
Spearing this kaleidoscope of doubloons
While silver bubbles shimmer from my nose
A silver necklace
Drawn up to the blue universe
Past the gray of my temples
As it should be
Let them fillet the water with their young magic hulls
To enjoy a sunset beer at the Dockside
Like we used to in the Four Winns
Indeed, it is wonderful
Centuries ago
The Ojibwa canoed this lake Was-wa-gon-ong at night
With birch torches roaring
Hunting Whitefish until they were all gone
As well.
Copyright © Robert Trezise Jr. | Year Posted 2021
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