Coping

Landscape (Paysage) (1900–1905) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Knife bags have never been so clean.

Snails need rings,

con sticks.

Con camels, hide and seek.

Sloppy, dirty hats seek to

give 

the gift of

gin

of beer

of wine

of vodka.

Of something made in concrete.

But ashes.

Colored pencil smoke mixed

with heroin,

laced with science and with art.

Blue is the absence of color.

Fuck you and your corduroy. I never touched

History that does not belong 

To you.

History that belongs on the

Center-left of rapids.

On the rafters of MT saddled saloons.

We send ourselves postcards

3 mediums of emotion.

To the morning.

To the decisive places.

Now you'll always think of

eels.

I’ll only think of ginger

Peach cobbler and ice cream on

The faces of my coworkers.

Of the fear in an arms length

Away from you.

I dream of the day you are banned

The pit-houses you stand in. Hunting blinds you stock.

You are not an if,

Only a when.

■

Dagny Deutschman is a river guide, writer, artist, and advocate. They live in Montana.