double crossing the mississippi

(October 2022. Minnesota, just after seeing the source of the Mississippi at Lake Itasca. Found a lovely camping spot north of Leech Lake along the river where the water was still heading northeastern, in the short crook before it turns south. Blue water, birds, wild rice, cattails.)

i have crossed the mississippi
still on the right side

a northward explorer before turning
south, where it must go muddy,
clear still now at the curve of the
continental question mark

earlier where liquid glass rolled
as waving wakes of boat wakes
now is a mirror, water
doubling the imagination of sunset

oranges and pinks reflect
where i must go, sunrises
in the sacred direction, east
to renew our old home

i will have to cross again
on this one journey home