The Red Heifer

The creek is flooding
this morning. Its pewter surface 
wide and turbulent.

Dark branches flash by,
tangling in a deadfall
where a great sycamore
tore loose last spring.
Further down
swift water unrolls a 
smooth ribbon of bright grey.
One red heifer stands
on the far bank, moving her head

from side to side,
confused at the interruption 
in her path to the barn.
When the creek goes down 
she’ll find her way to
the salt lick in the shed,
but you’ll still be dying,
and I’ll still have to know