Matamoras Banks

(Each year many die crossing the deserts,

Mountains and rivers of our southern border

In search of a better life. Here I follow the

Journey backwards, from the body at the

River bottom, to the man walking across

The desert towards the banks of the Rio Grande.)

For two days the river keeps you down

Then you rise to the light without a sound

Past the playgrounds and empty switching yards

The turtles eat the skin from your eyes, so they lay open to the stars

Your clothes give way to the current and river stone

'Till every trace of who you ever were is gone

And the things of the earth they make their claim

That the things of heaven may do the same

Goodbye, my darling, for your love I give God thanks,

Meet me on the Matamoros

Meet me on the Matamoros

Meet me on the Matamoros banks

Over rivers of stone and ancient ocean beds

I walk on sandals of twine and tire tread

My pockets full of dust, my mouth filled with cool stone

The pale moon opens the earth to its bones

I long, my darling, for your kiss, for your sweet love I give God thanks

The touch of your loving fingertips

Meet me on the Matamoros

Meet me on the Matamoros

Meet me on the Matamoros banks

Your sweet memory comes on the evenin' wind

I sleep and dream of holding you in my arms again

The lights of Brownsville, across the river shine

A shout rings out and into the silty red river I dive

I long, my darling, for your kiss, for your sweet love I give God thanks

A touch of your loving fingertips

Meet me on the Matamoros

Meet me on the Matamoros

Meet me on the Matamoros banks