to explain how
a tributary
becomes a river
there isn’t a way
but for the tributary
to deny it—
I deny
the very river
I deny the paying
of tribute
grow up, say
the men
in my life
men who
gave me life
when I am
already the river
I say
I am the river
I say
I am grown I say
listen
to my rushing
I say
you will stay
until I’ve finished
my rushing

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Carey Salerno is a poet and essayist. Her next book, Tributary, is forthcoming from Persea Books in April 2021. She is the author of Shelter (2009) and co-editor of Lit From Inside: 40 Years of Poetry from Alice James Books (2013) and the executive director and executive editor of Alice James Books. Read more at careysalerno.com

This poem originally appeared in TLR’s Feverish issue.