Sitting under an ancient tree
surrounded by that decreasing degree
deep in his heart the six year old boy knew
it was going to rain
the sky has hinted with grey clouds
the birds have silenced as if
feeling the child's pain

He was lost in the jungle bush
not to give you a tremble
he was not in real danger apart from starvation
and attacks from all of creation
nothing major
He was supposed to be home by the beach for lunch

He sat there straining his ears for hope
and heard the faintest whisper
it was the sound of a rushing water
dad always said every beginning has an end
so does a river
The rain was coming
The wind was blowing
and the boy had drawn a plan in his mind
follow the river until the end
Run the river Outrun the rain

And like the Olympians warming up for a final
the boy splashed in the water feet all wet
all the while repeating the same words
Run the river Outrun the rain
by the time he reached the beach
The river did the rains job
The boy hung his head without looking up

On the beach was his grandfathers house
the boy looked at his scars from the run
and smiled he had tried to outrun the rain
he trod the beach weakly looking at the smoke
rising from the house
he caught a whiff of coconut milk heated in flames
The smile remained the stomach complained
oh The memories of Rivers and Rain