The River

what is the river
flowing within us
flowing within us, flowing within

what is the river
heart does not know it
heart does not know it, heart does not know

where comes the river
what was its birthing
what is its being, what has it been

where goes the river
where does it journey
where is it flowing, where does it flow

not from the mountains
not from the heavens
not from the sifting snow, not from the rain

not to the meadows
not to the oceans
not to the placid pools, not to the streams

the river brings healing
brings feeling, brings weeping
easing of consciousness, easing of pain

the river brings soothing
brings smoothing, brings sleeping
flowing through dreamlessness, flowing through dreams

wide is its flowing
its knowing, its seeing
far is its vision, far is its sight

deep is its turning
its yearning, its being
broad is its compassing, broad is its scope

the river comes bubbling
untroubling, comes madly
swirling in sunshine, swirling in light

the river comes singing
upspringing, comes gladly
rising in joyousness, rising in hope

the soul is the river
life-liver forever
ever its being, ever has been

the soul is the river
life-giver forever
flowing within us, flowing within