Explanation

 

 

When the river asked me to join

wind was still. So I put half my arm 

in there—cold bone brother

and sure 

river wasn’t satisfied—

it begged for more arm. 

I plunged up to my shoulder

like a man 

who’s dropped his car keys,

reaching among reeds 

feeling my ancestors.

Grandfather was giddy

with parturition and slick. 

“God help me,” I thought, 

“letting fast river talk me 

into metempsychosis.”

Water flowed one way

and the dead the other.