~

we laughed at my attempt

pretending I was the moon

trying to create tides by


dangling fingers which gently brushed

the skin of a river



a ripple floated away

captured a leaf and carried it

to the opposing shore



I heard a voice

cool and soothing

trickling around soft earlobes

the ancient river spoke



on a grassy mound I listened

to tales of great brown bears

thrashing after sweet row

of flooded banks gathering crops

and depositing fresh rich silt



after a moment I rose to leave

a whisper followed me

babbling about the invasive carp eating

every last crawdad in sight



and the pipes of the old saw mill

forever vomiting sewage and

oily discharge

clogging tributaries

poisoning algae



as my tears fell

they created new circular ripple

within the center

a face stared back

eyes full of blame


I slowly looked away   /