river – One Woman's Quest

Assurance (haiku)

The River, My Heart

A landmark in my life, the river follows
ages, and eras: seasons measured by her flow

She acknowledges changes, bears the winter
regally, swells with confidence as Spring rains

Will walk beside me in sunnier times, and
hold my secrets as Autumn catches us in her flames

She holds my heart, my faith, always knows
and at the end of the day, oh how she glows.

(Originally posted on One Woman’s Quest II, March 2019. Image my own)

Contemplating Rivers

The river will not be pushed
nor outrun – still I try

shattered pieces of my efforts
littering her banks…

Illness teaches that I cannot
flow with or keep up, but…

openness counts…the river
brings and she takes away

I am witness, beneficiary,
a voice, for her bounty, her power

Life is the river. It brings opportunity-
I partake or not; it moves on.

No use building walls; better to stand
at the edge with heart and mind willing.

Priorities

Supper dishes abandoned,
we cruise the backroads,
destination: river’s edge

A muskrat creates ripples
distorting mirror images
disappears into murky unknown

A canoe glides by,
occupant a silhouette
in the golden sun’s descent

We linger in the warmth
of the fading glow, celebrating
summer’s gracious moments.

(Image my own)

Mississippi

She flows
unapologetic of her girth,
does not flinch
at barges scoring her surface
nor paddle boats laden with curiosity.

Confident in her fluidity,
she bears the secrets of life –
the sludge of humanity in her belly –
stirs the minds of merchants, and children,
tolerates those who gather at her banks.

The final word is hers – she knows –
no boundaries can contain her wrath
still waters rise and spill;
she is a dragon
Nature’s force,
and she is magnificent.

(‘Mississippi’ first appeared here in November, 2017.
Image my own. Not the Mississippi.)

Cautionary Tale

Tell my woes to River
she listens graciously
an empathic mirror

Not so the Jackdaw
whose arrogant clattering
derides self-pity

Slaps me conscious
for I am victim, yes, and
if not careful, abuser.

(Tuesdays, I borrow from Twitter @Vjknuton.
Image my own)

River Tanka

Nightfall, river calls
tranquility leaves footprints
on my soul, this life
seldom calm, craves redemption –
river throws calm and I fetch.

(Image my own)

(Water: Haiku and Free Verse)

Even the river bleeds
fiery frigid essence
Earth’s watery voice.

It is the river
that calls, waters
flowing through my veins

and I, the banks
steadfast and holding

the razor sharp edges
like liquid steel
erode my earthen postures

challenging…
blessedly challenging…
the hardened places.

(Water: Haiku and Free Verse first appeared here in June of 2018. It is has been edited for this version. Image my own.)

Nature of Age

Evening beckons
sun’s fiery glow
mocks my unrest

I am knee deep
in river’s flow
no more than
sediment beneath
human craving –

Earth’s healing
a welcome touch.

Peace Implied

Quiet now, places
harbouring my memories –
river dreamcatcher –
nostalgia floats on swan’s back
past bridges linking time lapsed.

(Tuesdays I borrow from my Twitter account #Vjknutson. Image my own)