And The River Roars On

clouds hug the tall trees tight
as though a new bride
her beloved off to war

and the river roars on

the tall trees darker
than the dark mountains
the mountains darker
than the inky blue-gray skies

and the river roars on

raindrops kiss pining pine leaves
brushing aside messenger clouds
such is true passion:
impatient-persistent

and the river roars on

half-hidden three-quarter moon
climbs up the dark mountain
step by painful step:
the beggar, arthritic slave
of the universe!

and the river roars on

the shepherd and his sheep-babies
climb almost without noticing:
as though an infant’s hungry hands
roaming its mother’s breasts

nourishment is inoculation against fear

and the river roars on

the apple crop was murdered
with no evident rhyme or reason
by snow
out of time and season:

such is the ancient secret
as spoken by the sage
“before and after follow each other”

life and death are not opposites
but brothers

and the river roars on

daughter of the clouds
beloved of the moon
sister of the land
mother of life

the river roars on
the river roars on
the river roars on

on and on and on