MINAMATA by karen marie christa minns (2022)

The river runs wide
Our poles are alive
with resting dragonflies

Proud of our catch
We head home
Cooked fish, our Mother’s approval

With full-bellied smiles
We listen:
Tales from father, grand-father
Tales
of the silver river

We sleep
making pillows
of these tales

Outside,
the river
Liquid moonlight
flows