the river & I

I pace the cities day and night

to put miles between myself and me

I run the yellow and red lights

can’t take pause or break stride to break free…

I pace the cities all alone…

I’m not lonely, I can only pretend

while I watch people watch me roam

by the river I consider my old friend…

he’s there to help me smile

mile after mile

way he dances with the light,

each wind gust, the geese and ducks, the hues of Earth and Sky,

and boats—boats of every type…

he’s so lovely, but can’t love me tender in reply

I pace the footpaths on and on

all my repressed depressed thoughts tag along

I move this fast to get them gone

and, repeatedly, I tell me nothing’s wrong

the river says I’m right

night after night

way he dances with the lights

of bikes and cars, apartments, lightning bars sky-high—

swaying, splashing, sparkling bright

he’s so lovely, but can’t love me tender in reply

and, still, his spell is one I

can’t quite defy

waning day, I run straight 

to the river, to the river

all night, I run right 

by the river, by the river

the miles, the dark, the quiet, all ours—

at least for a while

few fleeting moments—I hold them, I hold them!

the whole time, I smile

here, now, he’s shining just for me,

but this is all that we can ever be

‘cause he dances with the light,

each wind gust, the geese and ducks, the hues of Earth and Sky,

and boats—boats of every type…

not I…

‘cause he’s happy with the lights,

of bikes and cars, apartments, lightning bars sky-high—

swaying, splashing, sparkling bright

but I…

oh, I’ll never catch his eye

he’s so lovely, but can’t love me tender in reply