Drifting down between the riverside trees
Early afternoon sunlight kisses you
As your raft glides over the clear water
Your focus is held by the horizon

In the distance, a split in the river
Presents itself, and you must make a choice,
Similar to one Robert Frost once faced
And like him, you stand in uncertainty
The one stream appears in a wilder form
Verdure bulging over it unrestrained
Keeping the sunshine from touching water
As if it welcomes neither man nor beast
It offers danger... and adventure too.
The other stream seems safer to explore
The plants on either side yield evidence
Of passage made by creatures unharassed
What great temptation security is
And what mind-numbing boredom it provides
Tension builds as need for decision comes
Emotion overwhelms your perceptions
And you choose by impulse over reason

Moments after resolution was made
You are already regretting your choice
Yet the depths of your mind cry out to see
The benefits beyond the detriments

The aroma of a recent downpour
Lingers on the air like a charming kiss
Grey clouds still concealing morning sunlight
Songbirds signal the attendance of spring
An otter awakens with empty paunch
And as the river shares its poetry
She enters the water to catch breakfast
And she returns to the shore with a fish
With each bite that she savors, she thanks God
For the opportunity to do so

Children of the written word
You wield in your minds, voices and fingers
The weaponry you need to fight for truth
In your minds, the ideas
In your voices, the ways to speak your minds
In your fingers, the tools to record them

Stand up and shout out for truth
Fight against the tyranny of evil
Don't sit back while darkness spreads its filth
Address the night as it is
And hand out forgiveness where it is due
For words of passion and love will endure

Rise, oh warriors of truth
Narrate all you can, oh storytellers
Be observant and watchful, oh poets
Let your diction be your sword
As children of the written word, be strong
And spread your words like a raging wildfire