Tennessee River

Hold your breath and fall in,
digging toes into the gross algae-
mud seven feet deep and stay
still enough for the minnows
to nibble at your warm skin.
Pull yourself along by the dock
posts that are rotting so slowly,
but come up for air sometimes.
Or the posts will bar you in,
the catfish will become your friend,
and the mud, your bed at night.
The dirty river makes no judgments,
expects so little, and cares so much
it’s too comfortable not to stay.