A poem for the adoption of the new City of Columbia flag
March 10, 2020
A leaf, a wing, a sail,
something lifted, lifting,
something new. What
does it mean, he asks.
By which she means, what
do you see? Three
rivers come together.
A road stretches toward
horizon—a lane of light,
of white, into the distance,
which is the future, a lane
of blue to remind you of sky
and water, and who we were.
The shadow of hills flares
against the sky, or forests,
another blue beyond us,
and beyond that a light
in a dark sky, a guide,
talisman, beacon, star.
The horizon is who we are.
Here is a video of Ed reading the poem for the Richland Library.