Drought

Another
summer of drought
the Matta, Ni and
Po rivers come and go
signs noted along the highway

At the Rappahannock
I become aware how
devastating the absence
of rain has been
there is little evidence
a river ever ran through here, but

Somewhere
to the southeast the
Rappahannock
gathers its waters once again unto itself
becoming wide and deep –
slows to gain strength, then
quickens to reunite with the Chesapeake

Together they will flow to the sea.