the river drew me to her—
sent her butterfly scouts
to beckon me
down
fir and pine
became birch
silver threads
hemming her in
she called me to her
damp coolness
winding her way
calmly
through hushed canyon walls—
stopped me
at her side
showed me her pebbles and
reeds and flashes of light
the path went on for as long
as I needed
that place at the base
of my spine
eased its ache
I got a breath in
I breathed in the river
green leaves and wet ground
deep in
I breathed in my footprints
little bugs scattering
circling back
bumping into one another
I held stones in my throat
on the dusty trek home
nothing is any better
but the river did call