The Water of Many Rivers

author's note:

When I first heard “go with the flow“, I believed the flow to be out there.

It is out there.  But now I know it’s also in here.


THE WATER OF MANY RIVERS

I sat down in solitude at the river
to meditate upon this question:

What are we?

My mind wanted to struggle
so only after much time
and confusion
did I realize the obvious:

we are the water of many rivers.

Consider the evidence:

as with the waters of a river
sometimes we must switchback
in order to go forward.

We carve new channels--
change is part of our nature:

even when we appear stationary
there are undercurrents;
even in our stagnant pools, we brew.

I've finally learned
if I try to contain myself
I will overflow!

I've finally learned
I can't fight the current and win...

still, it's hard not to argue
especially when
I'm headed towards the rapids
or when I must go slow…
down to a crawl.

At such times, I reassure myself
with this knowledge:

water, instinctively, finds it own level,
water, instinctively, finds its way home...

© 2020, Michael R. Patton
finding Beauty: poetry ebook

Working with Water

author's note:

"Walking on water wasn't built in a day."
                  -- Jack Kerouac


WORKING WITH WATER

When I realized
what mental blocks
held me in check
I thought
(or hoped)
I could just jump over
those impediments

but though I was often able to elevate
I'd always land back in captivity

finally I conceded:
one must wear down such resistances
slowly--
the way water wears down rock.

Now, many years later
I'm still working to rid myself
of various barriers
through the tedious process
of erosion

even though I've come to see:
no matter how much I scrub
I'll never be completely free

but the more freedom I earn
the more I want
so though I may pause
I'll never stop washing

and besides

life constantly pours water
down our back
so why not use it
to optimal effect?

A child will whine about a bath
yet jump into a bubbling fountain
and dance

so whenever I'm doused
nearly to drowning
I tell myself:
think of the fountain of your life
and dance

dance and scrub and dance.

what I learned while alone: poetry ebook
© 2017, Michael R. Patton

The Iris

author’s note:

“Water is poetry.”
       -- Jerry Brown, Governor, California

“Poetry is water.”
       -- anonymous


THE IRIS

When I asked myself
why this life gives me water
beyond my capacity to hold

I found my answer in the Iris flower

that catches the lashings of the storm
in the cup of its petals

until the thin stem finally buckles
and the rainwater spills out
to nourish the earth below:

a gift now flavored
with the complex scent of the Iris...

Relieved but empty
the flower cup then lifts again
to receive more rain.

© 2015, Michael R. Patton
dream steps: the blog