Up From the River

[couchgrouch]

Up From the RiverThree weeks past the April thawwhen I was but ten years old oldI walked there with my Pawhen dawn was wild with goldMa lugged its water for stewsome used it for their stillsbut that morning it would dowhat Pa knew was heaven's willthough I was nearly nakedthe only reason I shiveredwas my flesh had felt the sacredas I came up from the riveras a young man my bootsfound paths crooked and farbut somehow my tender rootsreached that river in my heartand of all the sin I sawI ended each day with thanksin my prayers I followed Paalong its sandy banksthough sweet wine tried to tempt meits grapes soured beside foreverbottles fill dreams that are emptybut not those up from the river'tween the shores of life and deaththere runs a great dividebut faith will ferry our breathsafely to the other sidePa knew better than to fear itas he passed the veil of foreverat his stone I sense his spiritleft footprints up from the riverup from the riverup from the riverin my prayers I follow Paalong its sandy banks(c)2006 Robert George