Louisiana rippled heat on blackened lakes and rivers
Where levees vanquished by the storm
Bled out their broken veins on those below.
So families would wade…
With grit aligned against the current
Streamin’ out of bayous up to life.
And one girl spoke the granite in her soul.
I got them skinny-bone long legs now
Drivin' on through nasty bowl a' gumbo stew
No stoppin'...muck jes suckin' toes
Way down
Like water be tellin' me,
"You ain't swimmin', girl.
This putrid mouth done swallowed you up.
You been digested...ain't spittin' you back.
You histry, sista...
Give?"
I got them muscely strong arms now
Stretchin' out like searchin' vines to floatin' planks
No stoppin'...wave jes tuggin' back
I got ya in my gator grip...tucked in.
But flood be tellin' me,
"You ain't pullin', girl.
This spinnin' tide done turned you back.
You been rejected...floatin' loose.
You histry, sista...
Give?"
Still I got this diggin' earth face on
Clampin' jaws and settin' teeth- to bite you back.
No stoppin'...eyes not lookin' down
And climbin' up to land and sky...
my tiny hunk a' hopeful pie
all jellied up with muddy crust...
I raise to praise the day.
Sing
“Had all me that you gon’ get
You, River, you ain't won.
I'm standin' wet and thinkin' dry.
You histry, mista...
Give!" |
