The Prince of Rivers
In the land of rivers I was the prince of rivers.
In the land of houses I lived in a thousand houses.
In the land of scattered bones my bones were scattered
by worshipful princes who carried each one like a scepter.
I was there and a breeze eddied around me.
In the land of questions I was the subject of questions.
I'm sorry what was lost was found utterly changed.
I could see through the sky and bring down the lonely stars.
When I was happy, lambs were born. They stood up
enacting their first dance of balance. In the land of frost
I was never cold. A warm breeze eddied around me.
When I thundered the sky tore like paper. Beyond the sky
the sky tore and rain fell into the moon's dark holes.
In the land of eagles I received messages from eagles.
I'm sorry the moon is a fake gray plate. I'm sorry the day
is so dark. In the land of the future I saw men of stone.
When I was sad all the seas swelled. The islands
were swallowed and forgotten; books were drenched and forgotten.
When I was old my hair was as long as my story.
I'm sorry the branch bearing fruit is so high.
When I was young trees arched toward me like I was the sun.
I'm sorry the dead are quiet as ash. I'm sorry what's left is so cold.
I knew I could escape through a hole in the sky. Wherever
I wept thick stalks grew. I knew I could weep for a long time to come.
— Craig Morgan Teicher
About the Author
Craig Morgan Teicher's first book of poems, Brenda is in the Room and Other Poems, won the 2007 Colorado Prize for Poetry and will be published in November. Teicher lives in Brooklyn.
