Suwannee Threnody by john clare

Do you recall the day the Suwannee died?
The only water found were the tears we cried.
The Cooters climbed the rocks and wailed
Overhead in missing river formation the
Sandhills sailed.

In perilous pockets the gators baked in the mud
Fifty years to wallow from the hundred year flood.
The bluegill and the bass swam for the Gulf
Only to float in the brine of Fowler's Bluff.

Under the cypress the racoons knelt upon the knees
No prayerful cleansing of crayfish in the river reeds.
The Sturgeon leaped onto the limestone banks
Died their eggs as the egrets picked through their ranks.

Way upon the dried up river bed
Where once the river otter fed
The old folks mourned no more to roam
In baptism pools the Baptists had to sprinkle on.

From Fargo to Big Shoals the pall bearing
portage of the canoes
We set up camp upon the wake of the sandy slew
Just at the coming dawn we journey down
Past the meeting place of the Creeks hunting ground.
Where Wildcat and Osceola heard the gurgling sound.
The white sulphur springs of abundance held in renown.

From the Itchetucknee a trickling vestige of the flowing years
When in the cool depths we floated past limpid eyed deer.
The loggers came and pulled the old growth cypress out
Once home to moccasin and catfish lurking about.

The treasure seekers left their little piles of sand askance
Sifting for arrow points or Black Beard's buried cache.
And so ends the threnody way down upon the Suwannee
Our hearts sad and weary as we lowered her into the sea.