On The Water's Edge Poem by Mary Champion

On the edge: -
the river plunges recklessly
dashing itself on the brutal rocks below-
shattered into foaming spray
by the impact.
Then, gathering its self together
resumes its journey.

On the edge -
the sea hurls its self against the shore.
Waves collapse across the beach
or face callous rejection
by the hard faced cliffs.
Then, exhausted by the onslaught,
retire to prepare for the next invasion.

On the edge -
the benumbed water begins to freeze,
growing stiff and brittle.
Movement ceases
as the beautiful paralysing crystals
of ice invade the whole body.
Until the sun's mercy sets the prisoner free.

On the edge -
The sultry moisture takes flight
rising eagerly towards the star
that has warmed its heart.
Drifting upwards where the air is sparse and cold,
condensing into tears of disappointment,
it falls back to Earth as rain.