Of The River Of Life
                          Who Am I?

I am a water insect
skimming the surface
of the river of life.
I dig no deeper
for fear I'll drown.

I am a canard, a duck upon the water.
I dip my head below the surface
and return too quickly,
to chew on the morsel I've found.

I am a porpoise in the river of life,
hunting and swimming and singing.
I'm compelled to return to the surface
just to catch my breath.

I am a salmon forever spawning,
swimming against the current,
trying to get home.
I am part of the river of life.

I am Saint Elmo's Fire
searching the seas;
All that meet me
are doomed to drown.

And I am all my victims.
A sunken ship full of mystery,
I have drowned
in the river of life.

I am the mermaid
that stares out to sea,
wishing but to return.

But she cannot return
to swimming the seas;
and I cannot go back
to skimming the surface.