What River Mumma Knows
River Mumma Knows things —
the underground trod of Hector's Spring,
of One Eye River. The tributaries feed
the red mangroves of Black River.
Over 100 square miles of Great Morass
are stomping ground of River Mumma.
She knows rocks under which
live large colonies of 'shrimp', or 'swims',
depending on how you learnt to say things.
She knows even more than Goby Fish
where in river bottom alligator lives.
Wag Water is her own most sacred home,
secret place where is kept the famous
golden comb. In Drivers River, Manchioneel,
swim three last manatees who are
to mermaids as chimpanzees are
to man. Some days River Mumma
just sits cool on a bank, waiting
for signs that prove the prehistoric cows
still evolve towards the magic of herself.
Somewhere in Martha Brae lies the body
of Nora — selfish child who refused Dry River
token portion of ackee — small toll
for privilege of crossing; the girl insisted
she would rather dead.
Dry River call her bluff and come dung
heavy upon her head.
But River Mumma knows
not all things caught to be known.
Not all places ought to be found.
She cries 'Abu ye! Abu ye!'
and swims towards her ground.
———————————
KEI MILLER
The Cartographer Tries to Map a Way to Zion
Carcanet, 2014
