The Nile Speaks

I spoke to the Nile -

I asked: “What is your name?”

The river replied:

“I have many names.

I have been called River, Sea, Valley, and Mountain;

Blue, White, Black, Red, and Yellow;

Friend and Companion;

I have been called Peaceful, and I have been called Terrible.

I have been called Father, and Mother.

Some people name me after themselves; others name me after their lands.

I have been called God, and I have been called Water.

I am all of these, to all of my children. 

My name doesn’t matter to me.”

I asked the Nile: “How can I know you?”

The river replied:

“By jumping in,

By getting wet,

By letting me carry you in my arms,

And not the other way around.”

I asked the Nile: “What is your essence?”

The river replied:

“The sigh of a traveler, who slakes his thirst in me;

The laugh of a baby girl, who shakes her feet in me;

I am the sparkle in the eyes of farmers and fishermen,

Passionate lovers, and white-robed pilgrims.

I asked the Nile: “Who are your children?”

“All those who drink from me.

All those who delight in me.

All those who flow with me are my children.”

Photo by David McEachan, Pexels.com