by the river

 

 

by the river

thinking back

a memory of a memory

a door in time

twelve to twenty

to forty-one

 

dark and cool

swift , tumbling

over stones

rounded by time -

the shady

green water

 

i sat on a rock

 washed clean

by the rapids

remembering

seventh grade

so clearly

 

exploring

darkest Africa

on my bicycle

after school

back when

i was me

 

now i sit

in the golden glow

of the sun

setting

the aspens on fire

thinking of Oregon

 

under the trees

watching the dogs

leap for sticks

into the rushing water

then jumping in

myself

 

in the aspens

here today

i look into a river

in my heart

and all i want

is to jump in