The Pineapple Express is a hosepipe in the sky. It stretches across the Pacific from Hawaii, bringing warm air with torrential rains to the Pacific Northwest forests, foothills, and valleys. An atmospheric river, it hits land with gale force moving inwards, and rivers flood.

The Olympic Peninsula is home to 30 named rivers, among them Skokomish, Sol Duc, Hoh, Elwha, Queets, and Quinault. Beyond the Peninsula, major rivers in Western Washington include Snoqualmie, Skagit, Snohomish, Stillaguamish, Skykomish, Nooksack, Green-Duwamish, Puyallup, Nisqually, Cowlitz, and Chehalis. These are the rivers and the names of the Peoples.

    la nina 
    a native dictionary 
    in her overcoat
    

Later, there can be severe drought in summer, as the West Coast has seen most of this decade. Brushfires and forest fires burn exponential acres of flora and fauna, as well as human creations. You feel the smoke in your eyes and throat; then you smell it. It’s thick and dangerous, keeps you inside for days.

Still, there are festivals, fairs, tribal gatherings, drumming circles, parades, dances, and painted canoes. All of them courtesy of the gift-giving Peoples.

    smokejumpers—
    in the longhouse  
    alderwood salmon 
    

Bio: Sherry Reniker