The Salmon Upriver

In the subsiding flood in the grey of  the dawn
The salmon are swimming upriver to spawn
With the cold breath of November on a sunless day
Against the strong current they battle their way
For many of them their life's end is near
Destined to die in a poacher's gaff or spear
But always a few to lay their eggs and make it back to the ocean alive
In Nature the smartest and strongest and fittest are destined to survive
To survive their spawning season of luck they are in need
The Atlantic salmon of fish are a hardy breed
Of them much has been written and stories of them we often hear
Late October to early December is their breeding time of year
In the subsiding flood of a November day
The salmon upriver to spawn are swimming their way.