Ode To Bronx River

Ode to Bronx River

The snake plant reminds me of grandfather
And long walks beneath willow trees
Along the Wecquaesqeek [1] riverbank
Where wigwams and longhouse lodged wampumpeag and Sachem
Cautious of Sa-wana-kie [2] the salt water people

Sawanakie came in his long boat from the easy flowing river [3]
Came out of fogbank near where the rivers meet
Where Sachem and Wappingos [4] approached
Curious of these new salt water men

The bearded one whispered: “Durst not trust them” [5]
And thunder bellowed from their weapons
Arrows heaved in response
Near the shoreline of the “Bronck” [6]

And one Sawanakie slumps still
Two others in crimson heap
As the canoes withdraw to Wecquaesqeek creek
I reflect back at their retreat
Killed by smallpox and malaria
And the wars of 1643 [7]

And gone are the villages of Alipconk, Wysquaqua, Rechtuak [8]
And gone is the wampum of black clamshells
And freshly grown corn, bean, and squash
And potato roasted in campfires
And the snake plant reminds me of grandfather
And lone walks beneath willow trees
And wine bottles and broken things

That no one breaks but were broken nevertheless.

Américo Casiano Jr.

[1] Original name given to the Bronx River by the indigenous people of the Wappingos nation believed to be a sub tribe of the Wappinger nation.

[2] Indigenous word for the Europeans. This word is attributed by L. Sultzman to the Wappinger nation.

[3] Reference to what is known today as the Hudson River.

[4] A sub tribe of the Wappinger nation.

[5] Quote attributed to Henry Hudson by Sultzman.

[6] A reference to Jonas Bronck for who the borough of the Bronx is named.

[7] A significant year in New York City history. For after going through several periods in which a significant number of the local native people contracted various disease from the influx of Europeans, last vestige of native peoples were finally defeated in the Indian wars of 1643.

[8] These villages of the Wappingos tribe were located in the borough beginning where what is known today as the West Farms neighborhood. These villages were located along the river or close to the southern shores of our borough.