all kinds of prayer

mother was running down the Madison river bank
trying to keep up
the water was deep and moving fast
dad fell over and wadder's filled
current dragging him down stream
i was twelve years old
she kept screaming,
"oh God!" over and over and over
i'll never forget the panic in her voice

somehow he managed to get out of the water
he was 30 years old
with five kids

upside down on some steps he positioned himself
grinned that goofy grin
water streaming out of his wadders
his first and last time fishing
brand new gear gifted to mother
"if i ask to borrow it don't let me"

a gray, cold, rough-water day in Montana
i'll never forget
the urgency of that prayer


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