i.
we were copper once
these same eyes
(neither seen nor touched)
now remembered in pictures
in the space of a telephone pole
in the vanishing, slit-black night
awaken in your body
and cover you
like a bed of rain
ii.
in these same eyes
a man unfolds
like a miracle before a streetlight
he came and played and wept and loved
in sudden vehement colors
if he dances long enough
the earth will remember him
will scatter the ashes on
his proud forehead
the river will sing back
iii.
that afternoon, i saw
a river and entered it
a man stepped into his grave
i sang to him and
he sang back
but the river had no
ideas about itself; no
remembrance of daffodils
no fondness for
slit-black earth
The Used Life 
11 responses to “The river will sing back.”
[…] The river will sing back. — The Used Life […]
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So wonderful. And though something in it is sad, it is also uplifting and profound. I feel you really touched on something here.
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Thank you so much. I’m glad you feel that little bit of sadness added something to it.
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Fantastic!
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Thank you!
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Sounds like a sad day to be had. This is another of your gorgeous poem and I particularly like the intense beauty of ‘we were copper once’. Though, it’s hard to pick a favorite bit as it is all wonderful.
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Thank you very much, Jei. I hope it wasn’t too sad. I was hoping that touch of sadness might bring readers to a deeper message, or a bigger picture.
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Reblogged this on johncoyote and commented:
This is poetry. Please read and enjoy.
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Raw, honest and direct poetry. I loved this poem. Outstanding poetry.
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Thank you so much. I’m happy you feel that way—and I appreciate the share.
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I did enjoy and you are welcome.
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