Lumbee Legend

We stood together in the swamp,
Growing together like two cypress trees.
I wrapped my branches around her trunk.

Crickets hummed and frogs sang,
Fireflies twinkled like stars.
Suddenly,
A plop in the water behind us.

I told her the Lumbee Indian legend,
The story of swamp demons,
The tale only the old folks knew,

How a Confederate army had once marched in
And, except for screams and gunfire,
They were never heard from again.

Through black willow hair
She smiled up at me and said,
“I remember. I was there.”