shift

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