A River

© 2012

Pamela Wilkie

In my next life I’m going to be a river; free to wander across the countryside and witness vistas most humans never see. An unhurried river, softly flowing toward its ultimate home, the open arms of the sea, and making room for the new waters yet to come from the ice and snow high above.

I begin as a tiny trickle high on a snow covered mountain and as the spring sun slowly warms the ground, melting the snow, I gather speed and strength as I run quickly down to the valley below. Obstacles in front of me pose no threat as I can gently rise up and slide over them with ease, waving a white-capped goodbye on my way past. My greater power is barely hidden below my shining, sparkling face and it whispers a warning of great danger if threatened from without or within. I am strong and in control of my destiny. I carve out new places to live where I choose; I cross impossible lands just to see what they offer as the sky mirrors itself along my back. I am alive with life of all kinds and provide life’s very nectar to all who seek it. I feel wonderful, free of constraints, invincible.

Once in the valley, I live peacefully, gently traveling on my journey, making friends as I go. Animals and trees, rocks and mud become my clothing, but I’m never bored because they change quickly and often, as do the scenes in front of me. And what astonishing things I see! Prairies so green and vast that it almost hurts to look at them, their colors vibrant, varied, and bright; mighty mountains ascending gradually into the sky, giving birth to my cousins on the way up; acres and acres of undisturbed flowers, and dark forests of all manner of trees. Thousands, maybe millions of kinds of animals show me their tricks; their colors; their offspring. Some even come to live with me, handily building their homes with the resources nearby, chattering at each other and slapping their tails to make a point. Fish, highly prized by humans, are my finest friends. They too are calm and quiet, silently cruising through the water – some so brave and strong they swim upstream against my current for hundreds of miles, propelled by an instinct to live and yet will die when they reach their goal, some catching a free ride downstream, snapping up a bug or two for a snack, and some, in one of the greatest displays of unwavering trust, bring forth their young to live in my waters.

There are other things too, made by the hands of humans. Cities, buildings, houses, vehicles, trash, pollution. I try to be friends with them, but they hurt me. They say they love me, but they hurl their unwanted into my waters, clogging me and slowing me down. I must beware of humans, but I won’t shy away from them. Many times I find they just want to play so I become playful. I allow this until they become stupid or disrespectful and ignore my warnings and sometimes they get hurt and I am sad.

My name is River. I am the arteries of Mother Nature. I carry the life blood of our world to all those who need it to survive. I sustain life, for without me, all life would die and the world would be barren and dry. I am courageous and I am determined to complete my journey. Will you come along with me? I’ll show you treasures you won’t believe. It’ll be fun, I promise.