the way you can feel her before you arrive
a large body distilled into desert

body of water distilled into desert
sounds of meadowlarks surround us

sounds of meadow, larks surround us
spraying pockets of air, salt water, and joy

spraying pockets of air, salt water, and joy
light and lake, grays and blues, ethereal hues

light of lake, gray and blue, ethereal—
i know that if the lake can stay, so can i

i know that if the lake can stay so can i
because she is also a mother

because she is also a mother
you can feel her before you arrive.

A duplex written by Sarah, Jesse, Chloe, MaryBeth, Moudi, Nini, the River Writing Composers cohort of 2021-2022