today on antelope island we were greeted by new lovers:
a falcon, a murder of crows, the majesty of eagles, golden and bald

today a shoreline strewn with foam
jagged rocks festive with snow crystals
praise this air mixed with land and tears
praise microbialites, ancient here before us

praise rivers etching a path
praise rocks making a puzzle, pieces scattered over the land

today on antelope island
sea monkeys swim in a tank
their life cycle on display for us to see
brine shrimp on the lake like an oil slick

praise the coyotes playing on at water’s edge
rust and sea-foam lichen in full bloom
praise a blackbird floating still in the wind
as we reveled, we heard a cry for help

today we grieve as the lake retreats
where does the water go? we take it away
to alfalfa fields to ship across the world
as we grieve our last, vanishing drop

praise the support of her salty womb
connecting with ourselves, we connect to gods

we are a love story, are we not?
my lover took me to the lake and we skipped rocks
today on antelope island all we wanted was the warmth of the sun
what else can be saved with such love?

Lines from River Writers: Moudi, Taylor, Cordelia, Kim, Lara, Amy, Kate, and Therese, gathered at Antelope Island on January 22nd, 2022.