we have flooded
that which is quite used to floods
only, we saw that which

as wasted potential
as inefficient
as uncivilized

so we tried to control
that which had needed no control
so we dumped whatever we no longer wanted
into that which—without needing control—
had always managed itself
so we made inhospitable to so many beings
that which had always had space for more

i am sitting on the banks of
that which we civilized through
dams dredges dumping
that which we demand serve our purposes
before and above any others

it does not feel unwild
it does not feel civilized

it seems to understand
that which believes itself to be in control
has not yet been flooded
with the lessons of time