King of the Delta Wild

Planted on the river bank

Numb to the ends of the roots

And the passing of time.

The viper rests here

On my limbs

Using me to comfort himself

Because nobody else will do it.

The white froth of the wake

From a coal barge

Is my morning cup of coffee.

The river rats, my pets,

Are big as cats,

And their eyes glow red.

They communicate, they hiss

And scatter at the snap

Of my twig veins.

I run this place.

I run myself further into the ground

Putting my roots here and there.

I am king of the delta wild.