Great River
Directed by compass of gusts
Of wind,
Splashing against smooth faces
Knocking into sides of the soil
Dirty, and racing for acceptance
To be still in full volume
The river runs where willows
Pines, and cedars stand
Watching over like an audience
Captivated by the swimming tide.
Be brave great river,
Lakes await your presence
Creeks guide your journey forward
Oceans swallow your arrival
Into gulps of entry ways.
Waves crash with your story
Told by every tide, in honour
Of you.
Of wind,
Splashing against smooth faces
Knocking into sides of the soil
Dirty, and racing for acceptance
To be still in full volume
The river runs where willows
Pines, and cedars stand
Watching over like an audience
Captivated by the swimming tide.
Be brave great river,
Lakes await your presence
Creeks guide your journey forward
Oceans swallow your arrival
Into gulps of entry ways.
Waves crash with your story
Told by every tide, in honour
Of you.
Blessings from the turtle
Hard to paddle through
The seaweed and algae
Balancing to centre, pointed
Forward.
As water rights your way
A steady pace is made,
Same name new lake
Paddle forward.
A distance rode
Murky water strides
A turtle sits on algae
Head nod accepting
For us to continue
Forward.
The seaweed and algae
Balancing to centre, pointed
Forward.
As water rights your way
A steady pace is made,
Same name new lake
Paddle forward.
A distance rode
Murky water strides
A turtle sits on algae
Head nod accepting
For us to continue
Forward.
This poem was written by Minnesota native Michael Kleis and is a part of his unpublished collection of poems Getting to Know. Michael studied English Literature and Poetry at the University of Minnesota Duluth. After studying in Duluth, Michael returned to the Twin Cities to focus on writing and performing music. Currently working on new music with his bands Socktopus and Wooden, you can see him performing music and poetry around the country.