Down To The River Poem by Suzanne Hayasaki

Down to the River

Take me down to the river.
Let me dip my feet in the flow.
Let me sit on the shore and listen
To the sound of the wind as it blows.

Take me away from the madness
Of men and their endless demands.
Leave me alone with my sadness
Let me dig my toes in the sand.

Here in the Appalachians
In these ancient valleys and hills
The trees may whisper their secrets
To lost souls who seek to be still.

For too long I have been drifting
Away from my natural state.
Caught up in the treacherous currents
That threaten to drag me away.

Deep in this timeless valley
With you to trust as my guide.
I can close my eyes to distractions
I can shut the world from my mind.

So you can be the explorer.
You can lead the descent.
You can survey our surroundings.
You can follow the scent.

Go where your instinct leads you.
Take us through thickets and glades.
I will trek on behind you.
I will hike; I will climb; I will wade.

Maybe exhaustion will claim us.
Maybe we'll both lose our way.
Maybe the dark with outrace us.
Maybe we'll wander for days.

But you seem at home in these mountains.
You seem at peace with the whole.
Maybe if I follow behind you
I can reclaim a part of my soul.

So take me into the forest.
Lead me away from my life.
Take me down to the river
And teach me the meaning of time.