Once,
When the rains fell,
Its soft teardrops sweetly shedding
Upon my sleek and swiftly flowing skin,
You took my gifts,
Ate my fish,
And were filled, contented.
I am the river:
Flow with me.

Once,
While the sun dazzled down,
Sending silver flashes fighting
And strongly searching through my mist falls,
You touched me in wonder,
Drank of my waters;
Unfearing, you thirsted no more.
I am the river:
Flow with me.

And once,
When summer swept in,
Slowly shimmering its fire and sailing
In splashes that fell, in starlike scintillation,
You longed for my twilight tears,
Swam in my flowing freshness
And lost your enduring weariness.
I am the river:
I am the river:
I am …

But now,
filth you have thrown
taints my once flawless sand, filling,
despoiling my now tarnished shores.
You deny me, ignore me, you
drive deeper the nails,
you hammer into my cross.
I am the river:
Flow with me.

The sea will be our grave

			       1975