earth note 571

the river is a drum
every beat a signal
from the past
the direction of the flow
is not as important
as the origin

there were hands and clay

in the form of riverbanks
before the railroads
the hillsides were lush
campfires spoke
in their native tongue

when the river flooded

there was an exodus
     contingencies
and canoes
higher ground
was always within reach

crops came to the valleys

from original seed
rain brought sun
in perfect proportions
for every empty basket
there were full ones to share

the river is a drum

--- e b bortz

(published in Resurrection River Poems, Kent OH, 2019)