Waterfalls

There are seven waterfalls
or maybe five
we must climb
past in a lifetime.
no one really knows
how many

we are scared of sharing
the fate They Said befell
the whiteman who now lies
like a blot between pages
of moss in the slab just
above our heads. So while our feet
are busy in the waters, like
paintbrushes in a toddler's grip
and our hands are kissing away
at the cliff's face for all they're worth

our minds count
maybe up to four
or five, many not even that far
wondering if we have passed
the point they said not to pass

then our hearts begin to drown
and gasp
and splash dread all around
and we begin a hurried descent
past the fragile branches
of harried bones, feet sinking
into whitened hair like ancient
undergrowth, and we drop into the depths
of the pool we set out from

with fingers empty
because we need both hands to break
our fall six feet down.