Leftovers
BY CHARLOTTE GUTERMAN
“What happens when you deny that your river is a river?”
-Jenny Price, “13 Ways of Seeing Nature in LA”
If your river is not a river then what is your dust?
If your dust is not of your body then where is your home?
If you cannot find your home then what of the wolves?
What of the california coyotes? What of the pounding wild?
If your door is not a door then what will knock?
What will break in if the dams break down?
If you are mammal but not animal then where do you nest?
If your howl is not a howl then how will you mate?
What of the highways that rush like rivers?
If your body is not auto mobile then what moves you?
If you are moving and moving then what will you forget?
If your california breaks down will you drive away?
If your country never belonged to you then what grieves?
What human cries like animal?
What language breaks down like car?
If your river is not a river then what do you own?
If this land was never yours then how much do you owe?