Camping just outside of town, two miles from work
a cannery job, twenty three years old
did it mostly for the adventure
okay, I needed the money too
a bus would go out fish camp road
every few hours
once in awhile I’d take a cab,
too tired to walk
if I missed the bus
my tent was pitched
not far from the water
a scenic spot
it was a hot day
by Alaska standards
getting toward evening
I was alone reading
curled up in my tent
just glad to have some free time
away from slinging salmon
suddenly I heard footsteps approaching
ahh, it was the cabbie who had given me a lift
a few times out to the campsite
only this time he came
with a knife,
an unfathomable meter