Before all the Befores
you, River, had already been called
a thousand and one names
each name for every animal creature
and vegetable spirit
that ever breathed, mated, and died
that ever flowered or shed a spore
each tree, each flower, each bulb
fish, mammal, insect, bird
each calling you a name of her own
__________________________________
From One River, A Thousand Voices by Claudia Castro Luna. Used with the permission of Chin Music Press. Copyright © 2020 by Claudia Castro Luna.
