There’s a place I go as oft as I can
To lose my mind, temporarily ban
Thoughts of the world, its hustle, bustle,
Think of nothing but the water’s rustle.

Water guarded by granite monoliths
Among trees and ferns that hide myths
Of wild things that make bold forays
To devour -- no conscience, no mores.

Yes, a river runs through it, gurgling free,
And as I watch closely, it talks to me.
It tells of its past, now far down stream,
And of its future, north in a dream.

Of thirst, bright-eyed deer quenching,
Swim across, shake off their drenching,
Of a lone eagle scanning for prey,
Muskrat found safety, if only that day.

Of hump-backed otters, gleefully at play,
They fish, chase, and slither that way,
They roll, slash and dive for fun,
Chide each other on what’s been won.

I look up rippled river on silvered glint,
Past shoal deposits of shist and flint,
A calmer pool, wood duck pair floats,
A jolting tint to their colored coats.

A long-legged heron lazily glides,
Just above the current easily rides,
Seeing me, startles, swerves in flight,
River-wide streak defecated white.

They say cougars roam around here,
I’ve seen none, won’t walk in fear,
But black bears I’ve had to face,
Add intrigue to this wilderness place.

Yes, a river runs through it, gurgling free,
And as I watch closely it talks to me:
“It’s fragile where you wish to be,
So take concern, tread carefully.”

I reluctantly leave with backward look,
To burn in memory the picture took,
Can hardly wait ‘til its time to return,
Know what the river tells me to learn.