The day the river died

(Trad. English, C21st.)

The day the river died
Was much like any other
We braved the sun upon its banks
The two of us together

And as the air buzzed with the heat
The river set aside
The perch, the otter, carp and crane;
That done, the river died.

The day the river died
The birds all took to flying
And not a one of them looked back
To see the river dying

And though there was no shelter near
Where they might all abide
Yet could they not bear to remain
Near where the river died.

The day the river died,
It turned a dark-brown colour
As cars passed by and made the sky
A part per million duller

But as we gazed across its width
We scarce believed our sight
For right before our luckless eyes
The river slowly died.