Life & Death of the Rio Grande

Disappearance of Brother Rio Grande

On a sun warmed day in 24,

we gathered at the river

where green leaves on tall tree branches danced,

softly whispering in light breezes.

Waters filling green grassed banks glistened

as sunlight laughed upon its rippling surface.

We honored Brother River there,

listening to deep Conch shell sounds

 while smudging sage scents

lifted our prayers of gratitude above Life’s fluid Essence.

Blessed with river’s dynamic ribbon gliding past,

we relaxed in calm relief,

for in this brief Sacred time of Brother River’s life,

he freely shared his gifts with

whatever moved within his tree-lined reach.

We swayed, sang, & with poems

traveled Brother River’s restorative paths

through New Mexico’s drying land.

Our dancing slowly swirled beside his waters

on that warm, hallowed summer day.

In those moments we were immersed in deepened sense

of his tenacious Stream of Life.

Our prayers drifted into him,

giving heart strength to his connection

 with life from mountain springs to ocean shore;

carrying our beliefs, hopes and joy

from ancient origins to these quiet moments with him now,

imploring Creator God

to guide us in alleviating what we knew as his demise.

Thus spurred, we moved to help our Brother in distress,

whose fresh waters were flowing less & less.

We joined others planting trees,

slowed water to help drought dried Earth drink it in

and captured rare cloud bursts of rain.

 We then shared tales of Brother River’s ebbing life

stemming from human climate change denial, toxic waste, & overuse.

Our numbers thus multiplied,

we can engage our legislators to fund Regional Water Security

Water Planning & Management Councils,

inclusive of regional community concerns, ideas, spared & shared water

to blend with science based models of resilience

for lifting Brother River from his desiccated riverbed

to once again life giving vitality.