The River Ran

©2013 Louise Gallagher

the river ran
wild in its departure
from its course
set through time
overflowing banks
and city scapes
and places of business
drowning out
homes and basements
and those places where
those without a home sleep
rough
their bodies exposed
to the elements

and in its rampage
I felt the fear
slither
up my spine
flowing into memory
of a time
when my life ran
wild in its departure
from the familiar
running
wild in the dark

the tide is spent
the flood has past
and in its passing
I see once again
the fear of what was
flowing back
into that place
that will never be
again in time

the river ran
the waters recede
and I run
wild
in the freedom
of this place
where I am free
of time holding me
trapped
to a course
I didn’t want.