This river, this river
this river flows into me
out from you
and no
it is not the river I stand in
it is the river I step in
into, over, through
on my way to someplace else
somewhere else
someone else
I step over you and you
in turn
step back and I am taken aback
confused and lost
in deep waters
waters not my own
unfamiliar waters
dark, cold, forceful waters
this river I step in pulls me downstream
with such power
I long to release myself
into it and let it
carry me away…
resistance takes all my strength
strength set on remembering
this river I step in is not the river I stand in
the river I stand in
is much
much
deeper
yet not as cold
in it I stand alone
and am only carried away
by my own steps
towards
you
~ c.p.grisold
© 1998