The River

I owned a river once

and it owned me

we walked together, mind and spirit,

and it set my childhood free.

I loved a river once

and it loved me

neither eddy nor current

concealed any mystery.

I once hit that river

beat its back with a stick

but then I cried for my river

and it cried for me.

When I wept over its waters

it mixed its tears with mine

Flow gently sweet river

'till the ends of time.

When I walked with my river

it seemed to dally for me,

surely now it will take my ashes

all the way to the sea.

                                                                                                  ©Copyright Niall OConnor