The River

by Edward Alan Bartholomew 

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 LEARN

   that feet may mar Juturna's spring

      with trampled dust debris,

      but wind will move the tarnished tide to sea;

   that though she flies, the cooing dove

      will never know to sing;

   that no decree

      from up above

      can save our love;

   that weakened, we

      can't but a string

      in Cupid's crowded quiver

     shove 


KNOW

   that I step once into a river

      but cannot again,

      for waters now were not the waters then,

      and I and myself past are different men;

   that if you douse the flame of care

      I'll greet you with a shiver;

   that even when

      the stream runs rare

      or flame lacks air

      in Neptune's den,

      they still deliver

      till there's not a thing

      to spare 



Musical Version