River Rising

I felt the desert sands beneath

my worn and weary feet . . .

wandered many years until

I found a river’s edge.

Cautiously I placed my toes

inside this stream of living water . . .

not the kind that stagnates

as it just stands still . . .

instead with full abandon

it freely sings and dances as it flows.

~

I liked the way it felt . . . and so

I went in ankle deep –

where I sensed the water

soothe me over time.

Then one day my spirit stirred . . .

I saw the river was arising.

Irresistibly I found myself

drawn to wade in deeper.

Whirling past, at first, my knees,

and then around my waist

the river rose to reach my heart

which soon began to flutter at . . .

the quickening of pace.

The current swept me off my feet

and carried me downstream.

~

Startled by the rapids that

came into my view

flags appeared . . . I felt alarm . . .

“Steady girl” . . . I told myself . . .

then found that I was drifting . . .

into a peaceful calm.

The guidance that I heard then said,

“This river will not bring you harm.”

~

Like Colorado whitewater

rafting with a splashing past the rocks

water sprayed upon my face . . .

. . . the wind blew right through my hair.

Such poetic beauty that enraptured me

I could stay forever there.

~

But this river doesn’t just stand still

it has a destiny that carried me

to a place of overwhelming panic

that seized and then it shook me . . .

really overtook me.

Clearly I was headed straight toward

a massive waterfall.

I can’t go back . . . I’ve come too far.

Too late to turn around.

Over and then down I plunged

to the other side . . .

here I saw the river had

really grown quite wide.

~

I felt one wave upon another

gently tickle through my soul.

So I began then steeping in

an other-worldly peace

which promised that it would secure . . .

forever keep me in its hold.

Soaking in this great expanse . . .

an ocean of its rich romance . . .

until it saturated me.

Swimming in the shimm’ring

sparkling crystal sea

breathing in the Ruach Breath

boldly diving right into

the deepest myst’ries of its depths.

Daring to drink in

the vintage wine that is

wholly . . . quite . . . intoxicating

letting go and getting . . .

close to drunk on You.

~

[Denise Rowe 6/18/25 — based on Ezekiel 47]