River Speaks, (The)

the river speaks

they stood on a high point
on the edge of
Old Town
overlooking the
Vistula River
dividing Warsaw.

think of what this river
would say if it could speak, she said.

yeah, he said.

I mean, all the wars, uprisings,
armies crossing back and forth,
wow,
the history this
river has seen! she exclaimed.

yeah, I know, he said.
Say, did you know,
my grandfather was
the engineer in charge of
building the sewer system
in this city.
he received many
awards for his designs.

really? she asked.

yes, he said.
in fact,
when I was
a child
gramps told me
he was
responsible for
everything
"from your ass to the Vistual."

wow! she exclaimed.

yeah, he said.
And if you listen carefully,
you can hear it even now,
just like in the old war movies
about the Warsaw Uprising
against the Nazis:
"halo, halo,
Vistula speaking here!"