I spent a summer panning for gold
on the Fortymile River at Tom's place
not far from Chicken
in Alaska
I remember the sunny days
and the hours scratching
in the cold river
The dark waters yielded
little but chicken-feed
specks of ore
separated from river sand
by centrifugal machines
powered by gas
chitty chitty bang bang
and a handful of bright
stuff I culled
I still got a coffee can
of river sand and chicken-feed
downstairs in a tool chest
Michael Pruchnicki
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/panning-for-gold-on-the-fortymile/
