The River Remembers a Poetic Tribute to the Two Row
THE RIVER REMEMBERS
by Robin Kimmerer and Janine DeBaise
The river remembers our voices
Paddles up! Bow to stern!
Two Row! Wampum!
Honor the Treaties! Protect the Earth!
The river remembers our paddles Our paddles remember the river
Sunrise glowed on our faces Our faces reflected the light
as we gathered for morning meeting as our minds became one
A worried ally asked about the forecast 50% chance of rain
Chief Edwards told us his forecast “100% chance of awesome.”
Paddlers gathered from the Four Directions Strength flowed in the Four Directions
The Wind remembers our flags and the stories we carried back home
Our teachers said, “Be kind to each other.” Our kindness remembers our teachers.
The Shore remembers morning launch canoe after canoe, many hands helping
Bow to stern, two rows of boats natives on the west, allies on the east
Hearts and eyes followed Hickory waiting for the signal: paddles up!
River remembers laughter and water fights Skin remembers river washing away sweat
Safety paddlers with orange bandanas encouraged us, made us feel safe
Coast guard and Sheriff boats followed us, ready to help
Elders remember the young people The young people remember the elders
Winds carried our voices Our singing celebrated the wind
The people remember the bridge Two rows paddled beneath
The Unity Riders joined us The bridge remembers the horses
Sun remembers the tips of our noses Nose remember the kisses of sunburn
Solar power charged our phones Our phones carry the pictures still
Willows offered us shade We paddled with gratitude
The canoe does not steer the ship The ship does not steer the canoe
We honor each other’s sovereignty and agree to live side by side
We passed snacks from boat to boat We shared trail mix and cookies
The riverbank remembers the chanting The chanting remembers the riverbank
The anti-war songs, the protest The way sunlight led us forward
We gasped at dead fish floating Fish remember when the river was clean
The air remembers the music The music celebrated the air
the drumming, the voices the singing, the words
We ate in circles, slept in circles Sometimes we paddled in circles
The Thunderers came to protect us The young ones danced in the rain
The canoe remembers the shaping hands Hands remember the gift of the tree
The little dog Huxley remembers hands petting We all remember the little dog
Hand remembers hand the clasp of friendship
Grandmother Moon saw us dancing counterclockwise around the campfire
Our feet remember the rhythm the moonlit circle of singing
We remember the joyous greetings helping hands, open hearts, open minds
when our boats touched the shore we felt loved
The shore welcomed our feet Our feet welcomed the shore
Our bellies remember buffalo stew Blisters remember the gentle gift of bandaids
Our hearts remember the ground crew their muscular backs, their generous hands
Our leaders guided with the Good Mind We placed trust in our leaders
The Grasses softened our sleeping in tents where we talked and we dreamed
Strangers took us into their homes offered showers and stories and tea
cupcakes frosted like a wampum belt a yacht club welcomed our sweaty flotilla
Skyscrapers remember two rows of boats and the people who cheered us on
Our backs remember the tides The wind remembers our backs
We send thanks to the River The River that runs both ways
We send thanks for our journey together on the River of Life
Together we brightened the Covenant Chain of Peace and Friendship forever
Every stroke a prayer for peace Every mile a step toward justice
The Eagle circled above us in prayer Our prayers remember the Eagle
Ancestors paddled among us We paddled among the ancestors.
The children speak of our vision Our vision speaks of the children
The wampum remembers the promise We honor the wampum, the promise
we made to each other we make to each other
The river remembers our voices
Paddles up! Bow to stern!
Two Row! Wampum!
Honor the Treaties! Protect the Earth!
