River in The Sky

BY BOBBI NEWSOME

teasing tracing threading through my fingers

taking kites

(and paper toys)

from tiny hands

billowing bellowing biting blowing but

always there to listen to

(and hold us accountable whenever we utter)

a prayer a promise a plea a plight

keeper of secrets, oh river in the sky

river in the sky

(with wind-not-water and clouds-not-boats and birds-not-fish)

everywhere, invisible

fanning flames and fueling fires

till smoke reaches

(up and up past the clouds and into the current choking the birds-not-fish)

for the river to take it away

whipping whispering winding wiping

cities off the map

(because your mother is angry and you are here to avenge her like any good child)

and we rebuild stronger

keeper of horrors, oh river in the sky

river in the sky

(with wind-not-water and clouds-not-boats and birds-not-fish)

an unfeeling constant