A fine light mist

Hangs over a Northern lake

Draping the surrounding forest

Moisture laden branches dripping

Onto the lake’s surface

The remnant of a late summer storm

No winds blow now

The lake surface calm

 

The sound of running water

Can be heard not far off

A beaver dam holds

Back the rising water

Induced by the storm

A beaver can be seen

Repairing the leaking dam

 

The water drips through

The dam of sticks and mud

The dripping water

Becomes a trickle

Of a small flowing stream

The stream menders through

A grass filled swamp

Gnarled tree trunks

Grey with age

Stand like aging sentinels

Among the green grass

Waterfowl frolic and feed

 

The stream flows on

The sky is clearing

By late morning

The sun warms the land

Emerging from the wetlands

The river’s edge becomes rocky

The hills close in

Old growth pine and cedar

Dominate the rocky shoreline

 

With quicken of pace

The river flows onward

The merging of streams

Swells the strengthen river

The speckled trout abounds

In the clear and cold water

Of pools and rapids

 

A wide bend appears

A grove of Birch trees

In a burnt over area

Grace the river’s edge

The white bark luminous

In the late afternoon

 

There is a noticeable

Increase of water flow

The roaring sound of water

Can be heard ahead

Mist is seen in the distance

The river plunging vertically

Over a steep precipice

Into a swirling pool

Jagged cliffs are raised

Above the violent water

 

A family of Otter rollick

Below the misty falls

The river tumbles and surges

Through a rock infested gorge

To emerge into quiet waters

Leaving behind the towering hills

To flow through level land

 

A scattering of Maples

Are now a common sight

A grass filled meadow

Appears in the distance

A Common Merganser hen

With her half grown brood

Following helter-skelter behind

As she hurries downriver

 

A cow moose noiselessly

Steps to the river edge

Two calves follow behind

Lowering their heads

To drink their fill

Of the clear water

Before merging back into

The shadowy forest

 

The river flows on

Small birds in splendid color

Twitter and dash among

The overhanging tag alders

A hawk perched high

Watching for an unwary prey

A mink dark in color

Follows the rugged shore

With a bounding gait

Foraging for a meal

 

In the far distance

The shimmering waters of

Lake Huron is glimpsed

The river twists and turns

Through heavily forested land

To emerge through wind swept rocks

Merging into the vastness

Of Lake Huron