easter weekend – before
and after autumn rain
we walked the fern path
the damp underfoot path
the deep tree shade
blue sky raven path
that flows along the river
climbs slowly until the quiet deep
becomes the flow rush through river grass,
marimbas smooth over rocks,
dashes pool to pool
until birdsong becomes the river calling loudly
as it falls white water to dark pools.
we have come autumn skin
still holding summer’s warmth
to take the waters.
to give ourselves to this,
to her – to the deep startling water
that holds starlight by day,
and solemn we may be
in the long foot prayers we have spoken
to the waiting earth, but we smile at the sky
full of chit chat and foolery
until one by one and all together
we match our breath to the crashing falls –
plunge the black pool water
live hair water-weed to the silence until
we break the gasping surface
to laugh banshee as the cold-stolen breath
releases the joy we had carried reverent
like river pebbles and hand fulls of nuts –
releases in laughter that rises from the deep
to clatter bright wings to the sky.
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