RIVER TALES

I FEEL SO LUCKY THAT WITHIN A SHORT FIVE OR TEN MINUTE DRIVE FROM MY FRONT DOOR, I CAN BE AT THE RIVER AND ENJOYING WHAT IT HOLDS FOR ME. THIS FERN OUTCROPPING WITH MOSS AND ROOTS TRAILING OVER THE ROCKS IS JUST ONE LUSCIOUS EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE RIVER PROVIDES ENERGY FOR. I'M SURE IF I WERE TO INVESTIGATE THE MINUTE DETAILS, I WOULD BE ASTOUNDED AT WHAT I WOULD FIND. THE RIVER HAS SO MANY TALES TO TELL.

I THINK OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FISHED THIS RIVER, WHO HAVE HIKED THIS RIVER, WHO HAVE JUST WALKED ALONGSIDE THIS RIVER. THIS STRETCH OF THE RIVER WAS SHADED BY THE MOUNTAINSIDE TO THE SOUTH. THE SUN IS JUST PEEKING OVER THE TREES IN THE BACKGROUND HERE. BARE TREES IN THE FOREGROUND LEAN TOWARD THE RIVER AS IF BY DOING SO THEY WILL BE GRANTED A TASTE OF THE SUN WHEN IT MAKES IT WAY OVER THE MOUNTAIN AND BEGINS TO SET IN THE AFTERNOON.

SAND BARS, BRUSH, EVERGREENS AND DECIDUOUS TREES ABOUND HERE. THE RIVER IS LOW RIGHT NOW. THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL THIS SEASON AS YET AND WITH IT BEING MID-DECEMBER AND NO SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL IN THE NEAR FORECAST, THE RIVER MIGHT BE LOW FOR QUITE SOME TIME. BUT, SPRINGTIME WILL REPLENISH AND RENEW. THE TREES WILL BLOSSOM FORTH, THE MOSS WILL GROW MORE LUSH, THE ANIMALS WILL BEGIN TO FORAGE AGAIN. RIGHT NOW: THE RIVER IS SLOWING DOWN AND WHAT LIVES ALONG THE RIVER IS DOING SO AS WELL. SUCH IS THE CYCLE OF THE RIVER. I ONLY WISH I COULD HEAR WITH EVERY RIPPLE WHERE IT HAS BEEN AND WHERE IT IS GOING. WHAT TALES THIS RIVER COULD TELL IF I ONLY COULD HEAR ITS VOICE.

A PERMANENT STATE OF TRANSITION IS MAN'S MOST NOBLE CONDITION.

Juan Ramon Jimenez