The river

January 17, 1985

One's native tongue -- how deep its roots to dawn of world to cry of bird and wondering imitation. Through travel of a tribe to wild necessity of reaching new friend, new foe, by sign, by sound, by forced communication. By deal with conqueror, by trade, deed covert or deed overt, by interchange of ethnic style, by warlike threat, by winning smile. by song of troubadour, by one who ponders deep and teaches and shares his revelation. The labial, the guttural, smooth flow or sharp explosion of sound on tongue, strophe or phrase, all merging in one vital stream. Such rich continuation!