Ode To the St. Johns River, Jacksonville, Fl

My Saint John flow on Through forest, marsh and town's spread Tablecloth of stars Conquistadors gone The blue herons walk alone In moonlight's silence River and lone night Memory is a wind's hope Rustling swamps for gold Let us keep our thoughts In slow meandering lakes The salt sea invites Less Timucuan Waken find us new remnants In Ferdinand's dream Love wilts in salt tears The heart snakes the bush of grief Tense as beauty stares. Waleka, Rio De Corrientes, Rio De San Juan, the same A gaudy green thrill Peace sanctuary of births Life from life flowing Still at Sawgrass breast, The Seminole blood of strength I from Afric's tent We the better ore Than gleaming figment of fort Lovers on this shore Sea abandoned child Scarred and aching love consoles Tributary feasts. O otters swim deep Beneath the currents I weep But a shrimp of tear What is gone is gone The sun makes still day's new dawn Oceans carry on Ships cargo joy fresh As pines from which warblers sing Magics of today. My Saint John flow on O'er fertile grounds of sweet love Blooming moonlight still.