River

The river must never stop her flowing
for she is the one who brings us all life,
food, and water for drinking and sowing.

The waters teem with their biotic strife,
skipping along; and down in the mangroves,
the briny ocean kisses his fresh wife.

The fishes are running in flashing droves
ichthy-phallic, thrumming through the soft wet,
the folds of the beaches, eddies, and coves.

The bear teaches fishing to her small get;
the beaver, how to build a dam of wood;
the fishes, how to avoid hook or net.

All who can protect the wide river should,
for she is home and provider and blood,
mother for everything that is good.

All life evolves, growing up from her mud,
fed on her riches, in turn it will bud.