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Open Poetry #12
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VAS
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-11-16
Posts 7450
Oregon

0 posted 2001-01-21 11:20 AM



Standing at the River
Virginia Salter

Standing at the river
land’s edge beneath my feet
water ripples over stones
in the near to shore retreat

just beyond, the current quickens
deepens
promises a swift carry
to the one that will not tarry

I pause
hesitating, contemplating
all the plans that once were mine
crumbled into ashes
in the footprints left behind

certainly some were gained
surely some were found
definitely few were courted
long enough to come about

yet what about the others
that lay as pebbles in the sand
just out of river’s reach
having slipped through time’s great hand

my back must turn to them
as I step to make my plea
into flowing rivulets
that are heading to the sea

over boulders, grasping snags,
eddies to pull me in,
forks that beg me come
decisions make me spin

yet I step into the river
a future waiting but for awhile
seeking opportunity
in the swimming of each mile

© September  15,  2000

btw, this is not a suicide
hopefully the 'swimming each mile' helps with that
this is THE river, to cross to the Promised Land...new opportunities, new hope
please tell me if you got any semblance of that, BEFORE, you read this 'btw'

© Copyright 2001 Virginia Salter - All Rights Reserved
jwesley
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563
Spring, Texas
1 posted 2001-01-21 11:22 AM


And didn't get the big "S" word out of it...got beauty, and hope, and desire and a need to move on...really enjoyed this!

Well written.

jwesley

VAS
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-11-16
Posts 7450
Oregon
2 posted 2001-01-21 12:01 PM


Thanks, jwesley.  I hadn't read this one since I wrote it in September and was afraid it looked much different than I had meant it.  Glad to see you interpreted what you did here.
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