The River of Lies

[knicodemus3]

There is a river we swim in,
of life or lies, I do not know
hidden within is a rumored pearl
with supposed powers to stop our growth

As children we float about the surface
while the adults dive into the deep
until suspense wearies us
and our breath we learn to keep

Somewhere in our passing adolescence
we are pulled beneath the waves
the sunlight falls short of the bottoms there
dividing the depth ominous as a cave

Deeper and deeper we trench
till the river bottoms we alight
and amongst the reeds we search
for the tiniest reflection of light

We, the youth, follow the elders here
to learn the ways of a seeker
but not before long the old pass away
and we've now become the teachers

Rocks and branches occasionally pass
to draw us to the surface
but we've long since learned to avoid such "hindrances"
so as not to defer from our purpose

Even so, one comes along
we haven't the strength to evade
as we are hurled toward the light
our time in the dark begins to fade

Among the waves we catch our breath
with time enough to see
the sky, the clouds, the sun, the shore
and the birds perched in the trees

Our eyes trace the river a ways
as it winds down to an end
in the drop-off there the edge deforms
into a thunderous mist

Frantically we turn around
to see children diving in behind us
we must let them know, there is no use
the pearl never could have survived this

Our mouths gape wide to shout in alarm
to say it's not as it seems!
but we are silently overcome by the water
and the search goes on in the river of lost dreams