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Above: ongoing map of cyanobacteria watches and warnings in Lake Winnipesaukee and other New Hampshire Lakes. Cyanobacteria is a natural part of freshwater ecosystems. But under the right conditions, it can grow too much and cause harmful blooms. Those can produce toxins that are harmful to people, pets, and wildlife, causing symptoms that range from nausea and rashes to muscle paralysis. Ted Diers, the head of the water division at New Hampshire’s Department of Environmental Services, says people should use good judgment when swimming or letting their pets swim. “If you see an area that looks particularly gross, that has a lot of green stuff in the water, you know, you may not want to jump in the water right there,” he said. —NHPR, August 30, 2024 |
here, a dish left on the counter, encrusted with old breakfast. I step outside.
The sun, bright. The wind bites my skin. It’s a strong wind with harsh gusts
thrusting leaves, acorns a-scatter, but I suit up for the cool, tap on my music,
and step out onto my paddle board to face what the lake presents: a disorganized
wind, flags pointing where they shouldn’t—into the forecast direction rather
than against. I paddle with and against the swirling wind. I can’t help think about
Francine, the latest named storm, drawing its strength from the warm gulf waters
as I ignore the chill wind and slide off my board, leashed to my ankle, to swim.
I take off against the current, waves wanting to turn my body, to go where I hadn’t
intended, so every so often I check my bearings to unstray. You might think I swim
for punishment, punishment for not working the booths for the vote, for not
dragging people’s asses out to vote, for not acknowledging there’s this hurricane
mounting in the gulf, building toward crescendo tomorrow to crash the Louisiana
shore, and there will be one more and another and another unless we temper
the warm waters, but I continue on my swim, not punishment, but passion,
to stroke against the waves, to keep myself from swallowing what the climate
has begun to spoil, to keep myself afloat.
Carla Schwartz’s poems have appeared in The Practicing Poet and in her collections Signs of Marriage, Mother, One More Thing, and Intimacy with the Wind. Learn more at https://carlapoet.com, or on all social media @cb99videos.