He sat by the flowing river at night

And watched as the water

Gently kissed the rocks

In its' path.

Trees leaned from the banks

Their branches stretching out

To hug the river

As it ran down the mountain.

The soft, rippling sounds of

The water lulled him to sleep

And his dreams turned to her

As they did each time he closed his eyes.

For now, she was the river

And he felt her gentle kisses

Softly upon his cheek

As the water ran by.

As he, like the tree,

Stretched out to hug her as

She flowed swiftly past him

And continued on her way.

The soft sounds she made

Awakened him now, and

Their eyes communicated

Unspoken words of love.

For this was a love so deep

And filled with a passion

That only exists between dusk and dawn

On the starlit banks of a river.

And as they parted

The last embrace was seen

Only by the quiet river

And the wilting tree.

Their tears intermingled,

Becoming forever one

As they dropped into the river

And together flowed gently away...

W. David Martin, Jr.

August, 1991