I remember,

as a very young child,

going across the river,

to Louisville, Kentucky

to a theme park

called Fountain Ferry Park,

in the west end, near the river.

As I recall, it was all white,

but I did not realize it

until they

were made to let the “colored people” in.

Where I lived, in New Albany, Indiana,

a mostly white, blue-collar neighborhood

my school was integrated.

I played with children, both black and white.
I had had no idea

they were not allowed

to go to Fountain Ferry Park

until a big ruckus was made

over in Louisville about allowing them in. 

It seemed

that the Ohio River

made a difference

In how

some people

saw each other.

It was very odd

to me

how a running river

could stop people

from seeing

clearly.