This poem by Lucille Clifton was submitted for inclusion in the Tammuz Moon Manual by At The Well community member, Lena Walker.
if there is a river
more beautiful than this
bright as the blood
red edge of the moon if
there is a river more faithful than this
returning each month
to the same delta
if there
is a river braver than this
coming and coming in a surge
of passion, of pain
if there is
a river
more ancient than this
daughter of eve
mother of cain and of abel if there is in
the universe such a river
if
there is some where water
more powerful than this wild
water
pray that it flows also
through animals
beautiful and faithful and ancient
and female and brave