The River of Life

I wish I could immerse myself in the pages of history, time, and deep reflection...letting go of everything I think I know and give myself another chance to clarify my perceptions and beliefs in the river of life that flows. If only I could turn back time and start my life over again, I would go back to school and give more thought and consideration to all the countless battles waged, names, faces, places, dates, religions, philosophies, and ideologies of the miniscule and the great. I'd give anything to take a deep dive into Achilles, Hector, Agamemnon, Athena and the Trojan War; the whole of Greek mythology, Assyrians, Babylonians, Hebrews, Romans, Carthaginians, Egyptians, and untold others by the score. I would follow them from their origins to ascertain their thoughts and dreams; and attempt to read between the pages of the ages to hear their laughs, cries, wishes, wants, and fearful screams. But time is running out on me, as it once did for all of them and the best I can do now is strive to seek, what tell-tale signs and secrets left behind still echo through the halls of time to speak. And if I were young enough and able I would feast on ancient tables side by side with kings and queens and knights renowned; like Lancelot and Guinevere to find the love that kept them bound. Or visit Cleopatra and Anthony before their die was cast, warning them of Octavian and life so soon to pass. I would sail the ocean of God’s wisdom, beauty, goodness, and truth if only it were possible to turn back to my youth... and climb the mountain peaks of mysteries waiting for me there, where I once had the chance of a lifetime but missed it, standing there. Inside, outside, down below and high above, beckoning me towards ecstasy but I missed the call of The One True Love... too worried about my own desires and ego-driven needs, When instead of planting oak trees I walked among the weeds. And let me not forget to explore the most far-reaching book of all: the Book of the "Word" recorded for the mighty and the small... for without the Maker of the universe I'd have nothing to think about at all. Yet here I stand and contemplate the span of human days, a mere mortal man with meager thoughts but enough for him to say: I wish I could immerse myself in the pages of history, time, and deep reflection...letting go, while watching the river of life as it whispers and wanders on forever, as it flows...