The White Turtle Under The Waterfall

The Water Project, a photo by Pati's Moment in Time on Flickr.

The waterfall on South Mountain hits the rocks,
tosses back its foam with terrifying thunder,
blotting out even face-to-face talk.

Collapsing water and bouncing foam soak blue moss,
old moss so thick
it drowns the summer grass.

Animals are hunched.
Birds fly but don't sing
yet a white turtle plays on the pool's sand floor
under riotous spray,
sliding about with the torrents.
The people of the land are benevolent.
Not angling or net fishing
The white turtle live out its life, naturally.

Pati-G 2011