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 of Providence Poet Laureate from 2011 to 2016, was born and raised in Providence.
