estuary fable
By Christianna Soumakis
Nov 15, 2025
Nov 15, 2025
the ancients knew the long meandering slab of asphalt by the creek
was not to be trifled with — knew, on full-moon nights,
the black ribbon-dragon, pavement spirit, rose in force and fury
was not to be trifled with — knew, on full-moon nights,
the black ribbon-dragon, pavement spirit, rose in force and fury
and went ink-squiggling through the pigeons’ surrendered skies,
implacable, voracious, reeking of chemical clear-cutting, sticky
and slimed, his tar-dark signature secreted in starlit cursive.
implacable, voracious, reeking of chemical clear-cutting, sticky
and slimed, his tar-dark signature secreted in starlit cursive.
against him the sages knew no rescue save the spirit of the marsh,
female and cyclic, linked umbilically to mother sea. she
of long-lashed reeds and sequined ripples rolling, stood,
female and cyclic, linked umbilically to mother sea. she
of long-lashed reeds and sequined ripples rolling, stood,
as her grasses belled their trembling tambourines,
and lifted murky wings to mount the heights
in swift pursuit. monthly, the paved-path serpent was sure
and lifted murky wings to mount the heights
in swift pursuit. monthly, the paved-path serpent was sure
this night he would best her, would keep his wits and freedom,
but unfailingly, she twined her tail with his — stopped his heart --
whispered water in his ear — pulled him back to bed.
but unfailingly, she twined her tail with his — stopped his heart --
whispered water in his ear — pulled him back to bed.
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Christianna Soumakis is an artist, writer, art instructor, and pilgrim. She has an MFA in fine art, has walked the Camino de Santiago three times, is a Pushcart Nominee, and researches the intersection of art, faith, and pilgrimage. She lives in New York.
Website/socials:
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Author’s Note:
I wrote “estuary fable” about the creek near my house where I walk in the morning. It’s an intersection of fresh and salt water, and of the human-made world with the natural one. In some ways, this poem is a fantasy about the natural world reaching out with power, agency, mystery, and grace, and reintegrating our “asphalt” world with its own soft, wet, living one.