Gulls are first to be on the land
near Saginaw Bay, this Monday
after Easter, pecking in the corn
and navy bean stubble
at the end of mud time.
But, by on the land those
growers mean: to be turning over
furrows and breaking clods
with disc harrows honed sharp
as Peter’s sword, except once drawn,
used until the job is done.
*
Auto workers, though,
have another day to roll their stone
back into place; maybe drive
up where perch are rumored to be
running off Bayport or Caseville.
Along their way they’ll see
the breath of tractors chugging
under gravity tanks in the dawn
barnyards, then all those gulls
and remember: We’ll need fresh
outboard gas. And bait.
