East River

by Maddie DePuy

You are like the East River to me 

a few avenues over 

close and very far 

you cling to your banks 

you are industrious 

you find utility 

you flow silently 

but everyone sees you.

They don’t know

what’s underneath your current 

but I do.

Flowing beneath dark water

but not as dark as you think it is:

your heart in the sediment 

and me on that river walk 

above FDR drive

waiting for erosion  

and gravity 

and lots of things.