As Prophesied   We heeded her prophecy — and what more could we do? Without regard for clan, class, or caste, we left our lives behind and boarded   boats bound for the interior, river by river, a chain of lakes, unknown glory as our goal, something true we could live   for. We found ourselves afloat on a vast darkness, sure that she was honest, would give us what we sought — it would all come to pass.     © Michael Fleming Brattleboro, Vermont September 2022