Indian Mounds in Detroit area

The Detroit area is relatively flat and used to be marshy woodlands. Rivers,swamps and streams were natural boundaries, but not barriers to the ancients. While driving around you'll notice the old cemeteries scattered around. Many of these graveyards are built on concentric mounds near rivers. I believe the early white people that first settled here buried their dead in these mounds because it was the traditional ground for the dead. No records were kept by the first trappers and traders and when one of them died the Native Americans pointed to the their burial ground to place the body. It was no accident that these burial mounds were located near these rivers. They placed the dead near the river to be close to boundary between this life and the next. After all, the land beyond the river was a complete unknown to the ancients, but all through recorded history we talk about "Crossing the River" to that unknown but believed in promised land.

I was with my brother last year

when he crossed with a laugh and a whoop.

the River,

was only ankle deep; I did see the smooth wet stones;

hear the water's sweet ringing, rocking the pebbles;

feel the cool fog and gloom,

breathing peace