On the Levee, Greenville, MS

When the sandbags
ran out they said
Lay down boys, keep tight
feet to shoulder

The spray washed over us
and time and again
we held our breath
face down in the mud

The water topped us once
and we thought it was done
that the Lord had washed us away
with his mercy and blood

But under the water
He did not save us
a woven mat of arms and legs
holding off the river