My River - Dec. 1998
My River drifts between our twin towns.
Two bridges an old and a new
Your waters streamed so crystal and blue.
Many adventure you took me too.

I frolicked and swam on hot burning summer days.
Then I'd kick back and fish on our bank soaking up the suns rays.
I remember your rage.

Christmas night I sand bagged with might
so you could not flood and put our town in flight.
The big one hit 1980 in May. The St. Helens Mt. blew it's top away,

Spewed the silt and ash clogged my River's sway. Filled with the River with debris and decay. tlhe River became like quick sand a mucky gooy goo. The river gargled and gurgled flowed only three foot two. The smelt stop running all the fish died. The river was almost gone, but it had it's pride.

It came back like a cat with nine lives. Today and tommorow it still survives. My river cowleitz still thrives.