A procession of longboats
reflecting songs
native to sacred rivers.
Ours: the Moshassuck
the Woonasquatucket.

Colonial buildings kneel in prayer.
Hooded shamans
strike a spark
wood explodes.
Rivers burn

illuminating water.
Once again
we gather at riverbanks

to sing
a city reborn
in fire.

From smoke
eddies curl shadows
all along
riverwalks
lovers whisper.

Night
coaxed away

the hips of this city sway
to the drums
the fires

to this moment

this purposeful light.

Ray Davey, the City Poet Laureate, was born and raised in Providence.