Their love was a river. Alive with effects and causes. Tributaries poured in. Along with rains. Carelessly, thoughtlessly, or ignorantly polluted. Areas of the river were treated and nurtured; Used in a caring way that would sustain. Other areas were left to the natural processes. There were moments of cleansing; Moments where everything felt fresh and new; Even to the water that flowed in the river for a thousand miles. They built a boat together; Got to know each other while it floated. It crashed into rocks and was smashed to pieces. They bought a better boat and paddles. After setting the boat out on the river, they paddled together through calm waters. Time went on and they found themselves in a storm and the waters were turbulent. The paddles were not enough to control the boat. They crashed over a small cliff. Again the boat was destroyed. They tried again. Their bond was deeper, or was it the emotional footprints of the trials and errors and personal mistakes? Whatever it was they continued, Bought a better boat with a motor. They travelled for years. They spent much of the time alone talking. There were daily interactions with random souls. Each completely unique except for their conditioning. Some fully commited to the conditioning were very judgmental to them about their life choices and told them they were missing so much by being nonconformists. "Even the hippies grew up." One man had said. They persisted on their journey together. They learned all they could in the relationship and all they could from the ride and the interactions with the people they met and formed short friendships with. One day while they were seeking shelter from a rain storm the boat was struck by lightning and was a total loss. They had gone more than half their journey. Still they thought more than twice about not continuing. They decided to try some riverboats with lots of amenities and people to socialize with. Time passed more quickly and they enjoyed the dances with minds along the way. They spent considerably less time alone and found themselves often more deeply engaged with the people they met. At times they questioned whether to continue on together or get lost in the shuffle of things. After a year of riverboats they were more travel companions at times than commited lovers. They went through the days with the activities provided them and the silent nights they slept together. Her heart and mind began to wander. She began to dream dreams that didn't include him. He was content with his self discovery and the lessons life had for him daily and his writing. She bought a boat of her own. It was a sailboat with a nice large sleeping area and room to entertain. She dreamed of getaways with only the people she invited and thought maybe she could make the connections she always wanted. Pursue the dreams that she never fully thought she had the power to. After completing all the preparations to sail on without him she left him a note that read:
"This isn't goodbye but we may lose touch.
You know if the current of our choices pull
us in opposite directions or the winds of our
lives blow so hard we can't make the corrections.
If you chase your dreams and i chase mine and we
find that its been a long time. When you think back
on the time that we had. The dreams we shared.
The love and devotion we declared. Don't regret
anything. Don't resent me for the choices i made.
I won't resent you for yours. When i think of you I
want to remember your smile. I want to remember
how your lips and eyes looked when you were
happy with me. I want to remember us when it
was how love was supposed to be. If we lose touch,
Don't think this never meant that much.
Because for a moment in time you were my everything."
As he read the letter he began to think back over all the moments they shared. The laughter and tears. The beautiful times alone together on the river. He had observed each moment so closely. It was like he could relive them over and over. He would tell them and retell them in his words until his readers had lived them with him. He felt the loss deeply. He cried sometimes. He filled his pen with the pain and tears and the blood from the crashes. He grew as a man. He became stronger and more confident. He awakened more and more to what really is and let his perceptions, ideals, designs fall away. He bought his own sailboat. He realized how much he had gained from soaking in all the moments so deeply. He felt them with a sensitivity some had called a weakness. He lived a full life. Was loved by and loved many women. He lived all his dreams and became the talented skillful writer he always hoped to be with a recognizable name. That gave him a comfortable life. He never heard from her again after that day. After many years he died, single but happy. His soul left his body peacefully. His energy rejoined the universe. Everytime it rains he rejoins the river of love.
What a wonderful change of pace for you. But your lyrical quality still shines through. I'm honored that you would choose one of my photos to be graced by your words. Thank you Theron x
ReplyDeleteThe love and devotion we declared don't regret anything,
ReplyDeletebecause for a moment in time you were my everything.
-what a beautiful poem really perfect!