Lesson of the river

Reull Vallis River on Mars

There is no distinction to the river between species.
It just flows.
What is memory to the river?
Will it remember that particular whirlpool under the bridge?
Oh, there is many a whirlpool!
Will it remember that particular fish?
Oh, the fish are many!
Will it remember that particular bed of rocks?
Oh, rocks are many! So many a rock!
It makes no difference to the river.
Its conclusion is the ocean, its background the ice.
Its course of action is winding movement...
so long there shall be water...
Then what is its inspiration?

For if you think of a river bed in a dry desert landscape,
like a foot print of where a river once made its bed.
What memories has it left of all the creatures in its belly,
all the life dancing around it, the feasts of rain from above?
Is it still river, that rocky roundness below?
Is it still what it once was made of?