Rivers of Tears

We cried when the surveyors came and 
broke up the land into lines unseen.
What the prophet had said became true:
this land will be taken from us.

We cried the Tennessee, Ohio, 
Mississippi, Arkansas to overflow
with the waters of our sorrow, 
leaving behind trails of tears.

We cried because you would not 
love it as we once loved it,
thank it as we always thanked it-
knowing all future tears will be stones.