Catch Release

It’s propped snug
in the shrubs at the shoreline,
thin wire-walls woven up
and across the skyward ceiling,

an open door hitched to drop
at the slightest provocation,
sliced melon and marshmallow
offered as invitation, a respite

for off-course critters nosing by,
later to be lifted and loaded into
the bed of the rusty old truck,
transported to an upstream camp,

but first, a speed-bouncy ride
down the narrow gravel roads,
then dragged out, opened, tipped,
shaken to help the passengers leap

down to that comfy untidy spot
nature has saved for these homesick
racoons, possum, wood chucks, so
off they fly and then the sputtering motor

starts up after fur dust is brushed out
of this indispensable metal tool,
now rattling in the back, emptied and set
for the next trap-load-delivery.