I walked your banks
determined to reclaim you
from history –
from our story –
make you my own
the next conquistadora
in a land which over a thousand years
added enough blood to your water
that your clay is sanguine-tinged
an alluring reddish pink
that travelers cannot resist.
Instead, the river prevailed –
as rivers will –
and I
who have resisted numerous forces
to bow before false gods
submit
convert or die
been expelled or forced to run …
I
who have lived guarded and walled
protected and remote
perched high to watch for signs of invasion
stone cold and ready …
I
like all reinforced fortresses
fell
knelt and wept
genuflected
rose to my feet
approached to accept
the body and the blood
allowed the host to soften and melt in my willing mouth
savored the iron taste of the wine
awash in forgiveness.
This is the surrender I have sought.
Only you, great river,
are worthy to rule.
You
born millions of years
before humans
wandered your shores
sailed your waters
changed your flow to meet their needs
turned you brown and green and yellow
with the remains of death and commerce …
You
will be here in another million years
the salt of my tears
like those of all released souls
long evaporated
and a being or creature we can’t yet fathom
will walk along your banks
momentarily aware of the smallness of its singular life
a truth that will knock it to its knees.
You
great river
will claim one more.