We Have Rocks Like That In Our River

STONES IN THE NACHES RIVER

Restlessness of the eternal

won’t be found in these stones.

This is the way to Nina Simone’s soul,

native in ancient waters. Move

with what’s pure and quiet.

Whitman says the days are gods.

All you can count on with your fingers

is here. While folding this morning

into riverbed, the prayer

for unseen practice turns over

with a stone. Here is the word

in bread. It’s all a swim in the pool,

a rock in river time. Stories

all give up their color

in river sounds, and what's far

in my friend’s poems

circle in the eddy.

We’re gleaning now,

entering what's dark and wet

anyway we can,

our daily way

and prayer for practice.

Jim Bodeen
30 September 2013

A DAY ON THE NACHES WITH KAREN IN THE RAIN

All the rocks rise up

from the river

dressed in rain

If they weren’t greeting us

they were putting new color

into Karen’s scarf

Jim Bodeen

27 September 2013