In summertime, the river flashes
Underneath a cloudless sky
And catches at the hanging fauna
On its banks while drifting by.
It ripples 'neath the tree's dark branches,
Splashes at the feet of birds,
Frothing, tumbling, smooth or glassy,
It tumbles, speaks a thousand words.
And so the river goes...
Leaves now fill the river's surface
Making patterns, rust, and gold
And though the days are warm and balmy,
Nights now turn the water cold
Geese bob upon autumnal currents
Soon to bid the north adieu
And frost now edges each brown bank slope
Bundling grass in frosty fur.
And so the river goes...
A flash of white, and winter fairies
Fill the riverbed with snow.
The moonlight tints the world with silver
The river sleeps within the glow...
Tiny trails of rabbit footprints;
Diamond rainbows flash in sun,
And yet beneath an icy surface,
A sullen current still shall run.
And so the river goes...
Winter cannot hold the river
In its chilling, grasping hand.
Ice floes boom and smack like thunder
And water from beneath is fanned
Scraping, scratching, ice is moving,
On every obstacle, it rolls,
The river, swollen to its fullest
Crashes out of winter's hold.
And so the river goes...
C.A 2022
This little piece was inspired by the Black River which pretty much runs through our backyard. Gary, Toast, and I have spent many a happy hour on the little sandbars, in the water and along the banks exploring and foraging. The water is clean and beautiful and is home to many animals and fish such as Crawfish (which we have trapped and eaten), Caddisfly Larvae*, Pumpkin Seed Fish, Mink (I usually only see these during the ice breakup, humping along in and out between the great bergs of ice in the peculiar way the weasel family has), Muskrats, schools of minnows that nibble at your toes, Canada Geese, and many more species that I could list.
The river plays a huge part in both Gary's and my business, providing us with food and materials to use and sell. As the poem clearly states, it is beautiful at all times of the year.
Happy May...
*Caddisfly larvae live under the water in tiny homes they build out of pebbles and rocks. They will sometimes stick their home down to the under side of a rock while some will transport their heavy cocoon with them over the bottom of the river bed as they eat and grow. They are hearty little things and you can find them as soon as the water is clear of ice. I have read that they will build their home from any materials handy, be it rocks, coloured glass, beads, etc. They live a quiet life in the river and are a sign of clean and unpolluted water. Someday they will turn into the Caddisfly.
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