Apple River in Star Prairie

The woman found the apple of the earth
in a river, not the earth,
a fruit from the mouth of the duck, the swan,
wapato, abundant,
and the man in his delight called
the river apple, losing the right words
in translation (river abundant
with earth apples), simplifying
what was white as swans
on the river’s edge, what were arrowheads.
Take it in your hand
and eat, and you’ll know good
from evil finally,
offered the river, slowly curving,
and the man and woman ate the fruit, sharing
the temptation of lumber
to the mouth
of the river in its head.