by Mouna Ammar
The Huron River (Winter). Photo credit: Mouna Ammar.
It steadies me to witness the way
this river’s broad shoulders do not shy away
from carrying
the growing weight of piled snow.
It courses on
holding court with the submerged assembly
of mangled tree roots
that seem to be lifeless.
It honors seasons’ sliding changes
as it swirls by in royal silence—
a silence so dark
others misinterpret it.
The Huron rules—by
self-possessed murmur,
ancient praises,
and the acres of barren ice it passes
heel
to the yet dormant coming green.
***
Mouna Ammar is a mother, writer, independent scholar, researcher, postpartum doula, educational linguist, and wayward chef/baking dabbler residing in Ann Arbor by way of Los Angeles and Algiers. Her themes are strength, survival, and sustaining traditions. Her inspirations are as eclectic as Aja Monet and Mahmoud Darwish, Sonia Sanchez and Suheir Hammad. Mouna’s debut collection of poems entitled A Zmagria’s Wings will be released in 2024.
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This is an original poem, brought to you by Poet Tree Town, an Ann Arbor-based poetry-in-public initiative and celebration of local Washtenaw poets. Find out more about Poet Tree Town on Instagram and Facebook, or say hello at poettreetowna2@gmail.com.
