If They Had Only Feelings.... Poem by RIC BASTASA

leaf floating
on the river as the
river rages its way
along the mountains

if it has eyes
it could have seen
the beautiful clouds
the infinite sky

a boatman is busy
guiding its keel to
prevent sinking

there is speed on
its hands
skill on the paddles

the leaf it only had
feelings could have
screamed asking for help
but it had none

on the other hand the
rivers too just keep on
moving
if it had feelings it
could have
surrendered to the stones
in utter exhaustion