amazonian Moses legend

when the phoenix cries tears of pearls
he loses a magic wing feather, long and lean
golden with turquoise reflections in the sun
naked children, calling the jungle home, believe
in secret messages from their ancestors
dutifully offer a basket of apples
the plump green ones are the most sacred

hearts heightened with song
they spend hours weaving
watertight triangular patterns from bamboo
rituals must be followed
after the first full moon of autumn

tied to the handle
the knot blessed three times
the precious feather
with a shoestring from a pair of red Nikes

this must be negotiated in the town, two days away
for a month's supply of rare water grass

it is said the holiest of baskets must be woven
in the same roundness as the interior
of an old tire from the junkyard
where collectables keep the younger children fed

the tire must be scrubbed clean with sand
and decorated with blue wildflowers

after the proper incantations
they set it floating down the muddy river
carrying its offering of tempting fruit
in a basket with a feather
blessed by ancient ceremony
attached by a modern red string

when the phoenix returns for the apples
his song, sweet and forlorn, haunts the night
he brings the soul of the lost elder

a new babe is found crying in the basket
farther downstream



amazonian Moses legend
13 october, 2006
(Winner of the Writer's Cramp)