6. Yuquot (Friendly Cove), Nootka Sound

Unruled and unrailed, ten feet aboveThe spot where Maquinna keptJohn Jewitt, the blacksmith slave,At work on rusted rifle stocksAnd knife blades, the unfinished church deck stuck out over rocksAnd weeds, wobbly and free, like the childOf Maquinna who toddledUnreservedly over its open concept.Or maybe I made up the bit about JewittAnd the exact placement of the deck—Years later, I can still see her neckWhiplash when she hitBut can’t picture anything more about the fall,Only her hopping up, unharmed, starting to bawl.

From "Reservations:" mattrader.com/books/reservations