the night river

the night river
by Carrie Karnes Fannin

Let go.
 
Ship your single oar
and drift
on the night river.
 
Float
 
through
open gates
toward
rocky shoals,
eddies,
and
​
deep, salty
oceans.
 
(As
it’s said--
a
word
after
a
word
after
a
word
is
power.)


Each drop
alike.
 

None
quite
the same.


Borrow
a taste of milk
from other tongues.

Dip
your cup.
Drink deep.

Speak
for the pleasure
of savoring
each
 sound.
­­­
Dream
into being
your ancestral
songs
as you follow
 the water’s
ever-changing
line.
 
Leave
your
mother tongue
behind
and swim
in
the river of stars
above.