River Side Blues

 

The tree stands at the river's side –

Its gangly roots exposed

like the legs of a young girl

with hiked up skirt

to wade into the waters.

But for all her longing,

she cannot enter

to follow its seductive flow ...

for her roots go deep

and she's held steadfast

despite her downstream dreams.

The tree stands at the river's side –

and cannot leave her place

even when the rising waters

entice with playful laps

at exposed ankles.

2001

(from the book Discoveries In The Dark by Doris Potter)

© Doris Potter