The River Appomattox Poem by Paul Seay

             

Today I heard the music of the rapids pure and true
A hymn beneath my muddy feet that flowed a heaven's brew

A tune that rolled boldly on the waves so charismatic
Singing a song to the sun, - by the river "Appomattox"

She told stories of souls, by boats, and canoe
Flooding crevices of my mind, afloat on deja vu
Picking them up on either side - her personal batteau

They whirled about as granules - whom dare her drowning thirst
In an effort to drink them in, while her lips tightly pursed
She echoed tales of spirits and ghosts, whose lives were immersed

I listened along the ancient rocks, bleached of sandy blonde
Those words were ancient also - their stories carried on

My line tumbled the water, but my heart was acrobatic
It fluttered like a butterfly, by the river "Appomattox"

Fishing with a squint, - towards an aerial parade
Birds searched for perch by the river's serenade

A flock of seagulls scanned about the evening seared sky
Swooping on their mark, swooping  with the tide

I walked a path of wonders as the last bird swept
Have parallels of here and life, begun to intersect?

The sky turned taller, as the sun sat aside
What ran across my muddy feet, now flowed across my mind

That the warmest parts of us, are in the very deep
The river has made its bed to lay; and then so have we

Our shallow ends are rocky ones, that others are seeing through
Rivers and life carve pathways, touching all we feel and do
The passing time reflects our faces, as ghosts they barely knew

Remember me, "Appomattox" when this world bids adieu
Then I shall touch all, that the river touches too...