what ails a river to death?

River reeds are dying

Chirping of the morning birds is fading,

that melody that lulls children back to sleep;

distant and stubborn like a sheep,

now slowly ailing to death.

What can ail a river to death?

It's been full of life and health

Alone and palely flowing,

but birds too are dying

in thrall° are the waters

gently flowing to the grot° of death.

Gently flowing to the grot° of death,

in a wailful chant the river mourns

of the diminishing zeal that echoed life

Of the murmurs that awoke frogs

And the satisfied splash that nourished lilies.

But what ails the river to death?

But what ails the river to death,

if in the abundance of drowning bodies it's fed

If heavenly tears replenishes it's flow,

when the dark cloud frowns and cries?

A river that forgets its past might die,

shrinking to the stone-core water without.

Shrinking to the stone-core water without,

and ghosts of drowned bodies are emboldened

Rising each day in their united green

Galloping the flow that once consumed them-

Inter-generation vengeance they say

Of demons and saints the spirit's become.

That's how it ails to death

When vengeful past rise in show of might.

Bunguswa Writes.