RIVER MAP

I am mapping this river's boulders  
by color  
size  
and the ways water gets around them:  
ripples,  
standing waves.  

I will describe how the changing seasons cover and reveal  
what lurks under the surface,  
where the river shouts,  
mutters,  
how shade grays white water without contact.  

In a still place the water has three faces:  
     curves of rock and pebble underneath  
     leaves of alder, maple, and birch floating  
     across limbs reflected in solid blue sky.  

I discover where fish  
rise and hide, which rocks  
camouflage.  

I know equations for these things-  
they are long and alphabetical.  

My map is letterless: I'm learning  
to be river in this world.  
  
Copyright 2000, Kelly Lenox Allan 


Kelly Lenox Allan lives with her family in Portland, OR. Her poems 
have appeared in The Oregonian, literary magazines and anthologies. She teaches poetry writing in the Portland public schools. 


 
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