for Jeff Buckley
Rivers that run through Memphis
will take you down
swallow your arms, your bare feet
all the loveless parts of you
You have no say against it
Your voice means nothing to the river
the earth wants you inside it
and the river is the mouth
that will take you down
take you in
learning every inch of you
committing you to memory
like none of your lovers ever could
only amid the water's chaos
will you feel true tenderness
as the roaring becomes the only sound
bigger than you
bigger than you could ever know
sound could be
and nothing can save you
You are being called
to the edges
to the void of aching silence
and extreme anger
that can be soothed only by the river
In Memphis, where you were quiet,
creative, unheard
where you fought lack of love
loss of tenderness
turned it into grace
and fabric of a simple
city dress
ageless, ageless
You made demands only rivers could answer
It approached you with intention
like none of your lovers ever could
©2000 Lizzie Wann. All rights reserved