Elul Evidenced

Once, an old man sat at a bar Seemingly, alone in the woods The Falls were just over there Above all of his shunned shoulds of good Too great to enter into regret He suckered anger instead Justifying all his words and deeds It was right how he LED ...his life He kept his back to the river His bed was dry and parched The river refused to come near The fort where hatred marched His drink left him thirsty His life drew a line in the sand Here sits a washed up professional Who can't face the River like a man ...and conquer A wind blew up, against his ear And whispered,"Turn around," All the fears that hemmed him in Arose and begin to surround "You can not hold her She is liquid, fierce like a lion She will maul you, eat you for dinner And cover the place where your body is lyin' ...on the bed of stone If you think you are forgotten...now With her, your existence is erased Forget being humiliated You will be debased May your eyes never behold The Way the rivers runs Stay where it is safe and lonely And your life's work is done ....for the record" The wind became a pressing Deep within the seat of his soul Even if he perished in his find At least he would finally know The power of his fears And the freedom of perfect sight With all the courage life had dragged to this spot He turned....to see light...flash...then night ....thud, something fell He saw a baby, but the river Rushed to cover perception New life is in the River From infertility to conception He jumped off his stool And plunged into the deepest part To retrieve the infant he saw But in the process, he lost his heart ....to LOVE Written by Trudy Schrader on 09-05-2018