Bill Powell

USA

The River

Part 1: Terminal Frost

Through a forest of many years I tread
To seek a hidden truth
I had been so far along in life and dread
Pondering, even in my youth

My answer, I knew, must be just ahead
But I must have gotten lost
The River was silent and frozen instead
Dead in terminal frost

It was cold, unresponsive to my cries
I thought it held the key
With no answers a man just fades and dies
Worn-out on bended knee

Why would a Wise Man send me to such lies?
I shouted out to thee
Through good and ill I trod, for no good prize
I’ve lost my will to flee

Part 2: Awakening

I sobbed with frozen tears
When through the ice I spied
Something that soothed my fears
Movement underneath was eyed

Calming sounds soothed my ears
Maybe, I was not denied
And there’s more than what appears
I’ll watch before I decide

Be not hasty my son
Wise Man once said to me
There’s always life outdone
If you just choose to see

My shock had just begun
And I had to agree
Life was not undone
I felt suddenly free

Part 3: Answers

Water lay under that terminal frost
Water is life in the stream of things
There was life aplenty, all was not lost
Plants, animals, all sorts of beings

I began to ponder the Wise Man’s lesson
Nature always prevails? Or something deeper?
Afar, I spied, beaver in a damming session
The water pooled as the dam got steeper

Suddenly with such amazing force
The water spilled over and headed for it’s goal
The River forced it’s way, a new course
The lesson shook me to the core of soul

It’s not the life, but the reason that teaches
The River NEVER stops, no matter what
It will forever strive until the shore it reaches
The River NEVER stops, no matter what

Part 4: Lessons

Through a forest of many years I tread
And found a hidden truth
I had been so far along in life and dread
I missed it, even in my youth

My answer, I found, was just ahead
And I was never lost
The River was frozen, but not so dead
Life under terminal frost

It was cold, but I continued to try
It was frozen but held the key
To get answers and never really die
I prayed on bended knee

The Wise Man sent me to find a great prize
I give my honor to thee
Through good and ill I trod, discovered no lies
I will never have to flee

Part 5: Epilog

The lesson was The River,
And never was the site
No matter what befalls you,
Keep The River in your sight

The River never stops,
‘Cause of drought, dam or ice
And you should never stop
That’s the very best advice

If there is a dam, change your course
Wait for better times if in a drought
With terminal frost, swim underneath
There will always be another route

I’ll pass to you the same lesson
A River you must always try to be
Never, ever, forget what my Father
The Wise Man, passed to me

Part 6: Legacy

Through the forest of all your years
Wind your course away to the sea
Seek the shore, never, ever stop
Be “The River” I always tried to be

© All Copyright,
All Rights Reserved. Printed By Permission.