Cut the bank for the fill.
Dump sand
pumped out of the river
into the old swale

killing whatever was
there before — including
even the muskrats. Who did it?
There's the guy.

Him in the blue shirt and
turquoise skullcap.
Level it down
for him to build a house

on to build a
house on to build a house on
to build a house
on to build a house on to . . .