I Speak

I Speak

I speak of a mighty river
that sprang out of the steppes
that roared down the gorges
that fed the millions on the plains
and gave them voice

I speak of a river that is drying
from being dammed
from being divided
from being diluted

I speak a language that is dying
from ignorance
from neglect
from denial

I speak of
and for all
the expanding
fading
colors
of

Hmong