river thoughts

Like a forest on fire,

the rivers autumn colors.

The bank full of wild rose deep hot coals.

Nestled below golden cottonwood towers of yellow fire,

each bursting upward to meet the blue sky.

Gliding turning dipping oars into the amber water

watching each slice, then spill water over the blades.

The Yellowstone smooth as glass.

Its bottom visible on each side.

Each round, smooth, jade colored stone

mesmerizing me as a slipped above.

Every outlined orb, a charcoal bed, from the rivers blazing edge.

Hiding cutthroat with blood red gills mimicking the fire along the banks.

The great river guiding me into the bends, the breeze whispering into the

trees bringing a cascade of golden sparks.

Burning pinwheels spinning past my head,

Gold red, Gold red, Gold red.

Each coming to rest in the amber water.

I imagine them adding a bit of their dying heat to the river.

Each becoming unquenched burning boats sharing my trip.

Jiggling with me up and down, twirling.

Red gold, Red gold, Red gold.

Bumping, hurrying to join the others,

to make floating puddles of fire in the eddy's.

An autumn afternoon, the breeze whispering to me too.

Blowing past my head, taking my fiery thoughts and quenching them also,

just like the embers being doused along and the miles of fiery banks.

Bringing a golden warmth