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Prayer for a volunteer work day on the Anacostia River |
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Sweet troubled river,
we come today with our boots and gloves,
our sunscreen and dirty-suits, garbage grabbers,
bug juice, boats and trash bags.
We come too with our differing skins and skills,
from our separate classes and places,
with our prejudices and human flaws.
Dividing river for a divided city,
mend us with your mud,
pull us in,
make us brown just like yourself.
Mute our melanin,
expand our pigment,
fill our pores with sweat
and our mouths with the taste of work
so that, bonded by your banks,
we will let you ever bridge us.
Now bring us to your water
washed of pre-judging and pride,
and take us home at peace and whole.
May our arms that reach for trash
also reach out to each other.
May our feet that trudge your mud
also tread the muck between us.
Keep us safe and make us one,
sweet troubled river.
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