By the Waters of Moratock was an installation piece on display next to the Dan River during the 2015 Stokes Stomp in Danbury, NC. The art was created using an image transfer process with repurposed 3M Laminate salvaged by The Scrap Exchange in Durham, NC.
I wrote this original poem as a love song to the Dan River and my memories of spending each September at the Stokes Stomp.
The poem also reflects my current concerns regarding the severe environmental impacts on the Dan River and our community face from coal ash pollution and the risk of fracking.
As a child,
I spent two days
each September
overlooking
the Dan RiverI would tiptoe
out across the banks
and wade into
the cool water,
but only
up to my kneesIf I were
really daring,
I would crawl out
onto the large,
rough rocks
greeting the top
of the stream
as it came
round the mountain.I drank in all
of the weekend’s
sights, sounds,
smells, flavors,
and even the touch
between my toes.
But I never
immersed myself
in the water.Yet there
on the banks,
the roots grew up
through my soles
and developed
my spiritRoots planted
Almost 300 years ago,
when those before us
crossed the Dan
to settle just beyond.And here I stand
with the Dan
ever present,
immersed in my heart,
mind and spirit,
praying for guidance
to protect her,
her health and
the health of those
who partake
in her.
How This Project Took Shape
It evolved rather quickly! It all started while we were in Florida.