Home At The Rio Grande

Feeling welcomed and at home at the vigorous and rushing Rio Grande,
I relaxed in the shallows of your soothing water sweet and dandy!
Me, Delano and Homer in summers had such great and youthful fun,
As your rumbling and swiftly moving waters raced at us under the sun,

The pretty girls of Portland joined us splashing in one at a time,
I remember those days with a smile, great moments flooding my mind,
The crystal clear rushing water of Rio Grande remained so cool,
In summer break, on holidays when being away from school.

Exiting the steep hills and valleys of your mountainous shoulders,
Enjoying the land of my ancestors makes me more decisive and bolder. 
Historical battles fought in this valley to defend our Maroon rights,
Now we can relax and enjoy the benefits of those fights.

Rio Grande I feel proud to drink of the waters rushing from you,
Rekindling the vows that our forefathers made anew,
To continue to defend all our Maroon freedoms gained,
Singing melodiously our spiritual, "Cum by Ya" with sweet refrain.

Looking at our great history and thinking what it means,
Remembering the struggles, that were known and seen,
Witnesses have written of battles on your plains,
Those who had thrown away their shackle of bondage chains.

So wonderfully flowing, bustling Rio Grande I'll always say,
Keep flowing old man river, we do need you still today,
Thank you flowing river, helping our fathers and being a tool,
Keep flowing mighty river, keep keeping us so cool.

 
The Poemeater 2011

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