Meeting the Tennessee River

Sitting on the Tennessee River at Chattanooga at night during a riverside concert was electrifying. I wanted to capture the energy of the moment in a poem.

Look at you
oh mighty Tennessee River
bringing life to Chattanooga
while the great lady Southern Belle
dances down your waters
kicking up her red and white can-can
as only an exquisite riverboat can

Greetings to you mighty river
I have met you tonight

And the setting sun is casting
the kind of evening sunset
on the trees of your banks
that makes a man contemplating life
stare into your gentle waters

wondering can he walk on you

Do you hear the free concert
on your waterfront
as the people gather
on the manicured grass
with folding chairs, blankets and green beer?

In the middle of your waters
next to a boat
a single soul splashes down
to swim with the catfish
while the White funk master Papa Mali
with the dreadlocks under
a white summer hat
sports red shades

Papa rockin the lyrics
"early in the mornin"
to what someone enthusiastically
calls Voodoo music
and after seeing a drunk man
full of beer and Papa's music
get down on all fours
flapping his arms like a chicken
when Papa sang "chicken go down low"

I know
I knew

There was some old slave's
Voodoo in you Tennessee river

And the night breeze cascades in
while the setting sun
passes the evening baton to darkness
allowing white Christmas lights
on a small boat selling boiled shrimp
to illuminate faces of diners
high on music and happy on food

And you too mighty river
start to dance to Papa's music