The Journey

you were conceived
a stream
the tears of a mighty glacier
from rocky crevices high upon
the towering grey mountains
gave you
a beginning to me

I wondered,
marvelled at your
cascading waterfalls
breathing deep,  aah!
your fragrant alpine odours
refreshed me
I cleansed myself in you

till you became
the river, deeper and wider
flowing steadily, with some purpose
through rich valleys and farmlands
ever on to some unpredicted place, I
sailed upon you

like a
young riverboat captain, I
charted each bend, narrow, and eddy
always careful to memorize your course
should I ever need
to come back this way again
I carefully mapped

my determined voyage
to the sea
your pounding, breaking waves
on rocky shores
frightened and confused me
and yet, small moments of
moonlight calm
on glistening cove waters
sheltered me
from the storm

I loved you once
when I took you to me gratefully
then, but I was
always nervous of your immensity
and confusing moods
perhaps it was that
I saw myself
in you
perhaps the journey
always ends at the sea.