Black Water Rhythm

Black water hides tree branches

Black water hides gators

Black water hides coke cans

and shot gun shells

Black water hides crawdads and kudzu

Black water remembers Spanish moss

Black water remembers first dances and bonfires

Black water remembers big brown eyes

and scraping hooves and yellow ear tags

Black water remembers river soap

and the Swamp Fox

Black water holds catfish and gar

river muscles and first tries

and swimming lessons

Black water holds tree roots

Black water holds currents and

snapping turtles, and cotton mouths.

Black water holds the heartbeat of the Midlands