Athena Grey

 tomorrow, by the river
there will be music
and celebration of the water.

years ago, I pledged myself
to this majestic river
promising to amplify her song
and promising to bring healing
to these waters

I am a riverkeeper

once, this glorious river
was clean and clear, 
her banks lined with old forests

first came the sewers
then came the tanneries
then came the paper mills and the dioxins
they took freely the upstream waters
and sent their filth downstream

then came the factories
who left behind PCBs

we are all upstream of someone
and downstream of something

this is the river's truth

Tomorrow, we all gather to sing her song



Clearwater's Great Hudson River Revival
a weekend of music and riverkeeping
June 18-19