Nakachi Clark-Kasimu
To N.
“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of god, the holy place where the most high dwells.” — Psalm 46:4
If it is a river
then it has cut and healed
following the same law of gravity
has swallowed babies' whole time
kissing the eyelids
of every innocent beginning
has not slept for days on days on days
lost weight then lost some more
flooded the flat lands
and killed every seed
every single one
If it is a river
If it is gladness
then it is a joy
the strength of our divinity
carried on the wet feet of tears
drug through the jagged streets of guilt
yes, child
the light comes from all you lost in the fire
capillaries carrying what we should not have done
had to do
flush our skin with luminescence
glow us with heartache
so someone can see
to let somebody know
If it is gladness
If it is the holy place
where the most high dwells
it is the birds-eye view
of a world gone mad
it is a sinless sky
making wet love
to a filthy earth
for one more run
through the branches
of her willow tree
the top of a mountain of questions
unanswerable and full of glory
If it is the holy place
If we will
bless the shotgun
bless the head
hope like matter
continue and not end
the children will block the streets
set fear on fire
before they will see us dammed
will know that all lives must honor
the river
If we will
* Nakachi Clark-Kasimu is a poet, singer, and a spiraling wind living in Oakland, California.