Washington, D.C,
began as ten square miles
mapped out meticulously
by surveyors in 1791.
Markers placed
on both sides of the Potomac River,
carved out the city
from Maryland and Virginia.
Walking in Jones Point Park
this morning,
I stood on Alexandria’s river bank
looking down the wide Potomac
wondering what the land lost
when we began carving it up?
Beavers, foxes, osprey
still inhabit the shores.
But what of the Piscataway,
who fished and farmed
with great respect
for the land?
What did those first surveyors see
standing firmly on the shore?
Beauty that should remain untouched?
Or land ripe for “progress”?
A Reading Life 
I often think back to what land might have looked like and where people had hoped it would go. Love this poem
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I like reading your ponderings as you walk along the river in your new neighborhood. Have you seen the Netflix movie, Home with Tom Hanks? It came to mind as I read your slice as it shows one piece of land, home, across years and years. What did they see
standing on what is their home? Such a good question to contemplate!
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Thanks for the comment Sally! I haven’t seen the Tom Hanks movie, but it is based on a graphic novel I have in my classroom. You would love the graphic novel — stop by and see it friend!
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That’s always the case isn’t it – better to be developed or preserved? That applies to gentrification as well. It depends on what progress really means. Lovely descriptions here.
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I love your ponderings on a stretch of land that 50 years ago (yikes) I hiked/ran across appreciating the distance from the Capital and yet the closeness.
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This isn’t about the writing, but I love how your photo is a surprise when we read your opening line (Washington DC) but prepares us for where your poem is taking us- imagining the land before it became this city we know. My church reminds us each week that we are on others’ land. I appreciate your reminder, too.
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We are such a land of takers, aren’t we? This poem is doing the good work–Greed has caused great harm to the land and it’s indigenous wildlife and peoples.
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This is beautiful and true. Thanks for the reminder to pause and appreciate what has been and (hopefully) what will outlast us.
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Your poetry combines nature, history, and human reflection. The stanzas build up to your last lines- genuine inquiry and perhaps a call to action? Lovely photo, too!
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This is so beautiful to read! I don’t ever think about opening poems with a bit of history, but this is a great mentor text for that–so powerful! I also love this line: “wondering what the land lost
when we began carving it up”
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