The River

Do not stay too long by the river.

The river is a wayward god.

it is an elephant, a lion,

sometimes they call it horse;

One summer we thought it was a peacock,

turning in the yellow dust

that filled our eyes with gold.

I saw a woman floating in a lily pond,

in a mountain of mist, wrapped in a cloud

streaming with tendrils and pollen dust

I thought the river is a woman.

A country, a name,

A note of music trapped in the white current

A sheet of paper carrying a secret map;

The skyline is where it begins

between the darkness and the summit

in the birthplace of thirst.

Do not stay too long by the river.

It is a drowning spirit

a strong armed god

drawing and withdrawing such seasons,

Flowing river, standing still

River sea. River ocean.

River of all our summers

collecting the salt of our lives.

- Mamang Dai