The River of Life

By Aerallyn Zelpher

I sat by the River, with my fishing pole
I sat by the River, watching the currents flow
A grook jumped out of the River, watching my line falter
A grook jumped out of the River, and pulled me into the water

“No! No!” I cried. “I will surely drown; I will surely die
The River is fast, the River is deep and the River is a lie
It tempts me with sweet music of the forest streams
It lures me with pretty pebbles and silver mysterious gleams”

“For there awaits the crocodile, there awaits the shark
There awaits Khulhedra, lurking in the dark
There awaits the whirlpool, swallowing me whole
And spits me out, somewhere far away from home”

“Don’t be afraid”, he said, “this is not a whim
The River is Life, if only you learn to swim
It will bring you Presents, both bitter and sweet
It will take you to the Ocean, where all Rivers meet”

“I will be your Island, I will be your boat
When you are weary, I will keep you afloat
I will show you the River, to learn its winding ways
We shall swim together, from the mountains to the bays”

Alas we reached the Ocean, and his boat was leaking
Alas we reached the Ocean, and his island was sinking
But I’ve learned to swim the River, like a beaver, like a trout
But I’ve learned to swim the River, above and under, in and out

Chronos 13th, 442 AF : Done. For Quaero Fontis Requirement (2). To be copied to the manuscript in the Sylvan Hall, Chamber of Water.


Note : This poem has multiple meanings. On the surface, it’s a nonsensical story about learning how to swim. And using the River as metaphor for Life; it is about living and learning how to live. Underneath, it is based on Aerallyn’s life and her relationship with R, the first man she fell in love with. They met while Aerallyn was sitting on the Savannah, beside the banks of the Pachacacha. During the months of courtship, Aerallyn used the Pachacacha River as a metaphor in discussing the changes that was brought about by R’s entrance into her life. Her inexperience and her unresolved feelings, both fear and wonder. The poem extends the metaphor to include the conclusion of their relationship and his exit from her life.

To the poet in me, I’m glad that R is conveniently a Grook, a froglike humaniod race in Achaea.