THE RIVER BREATHES
by Padma Jared Thornlyre

River of blood, river of milk,
Mound of black marsh, cavernous Om,

Mount of the violet asp;

Svelting, plush curves-sacrosanct limbs,
Limbs of silk flesh, aspen or birch;

Buddha inside you, awake,
Sky of dakinis, lotus-tongued,
Jeweled the pulses of dawn-

Ah! the red flood, tumbling toward death!--
Ah! the white wave, warming my lips!--

Woman of fluid and clay,

Ponder what's yours, ponder the womb,
Ponder the breeze mating your breath.