Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Gathering Fresh New Possibilities by the River
By Don Iannone









It's been a long time
since I played by the river--
along the Mighty Ohio,
where I last knew myself
as a eager young boy.
Such unstoppable power
in the river, and in being young, and
in playing things real.

By the river, we played,
for hours on end.
Fishing, skipping flat rocks,
and dreaming--yes dreaming
of times not yet come, when
we'd be out of here,
and somewhere else
other than here.

Why is it so hard now to just play, and
dream of times not yet come?
Why is there so much pain
in gathering up fresh new possibilities
that carry you, like the river
to another place you've not been?
Today, let me be that boy,
dreaming unstoppable dreams by the river.

13 comments:

gautami tripathy said...

I too would like to go back to my girlie days, without a care in this world and day-dreaming.

Thanks for reminding to stop a while and reflect. I sure did that.

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Gautami...Greetings and thanks for stopping by. Yes, by all means, dream on on this Tuesday.

Hayden said...

rivers...are made for dreaming. Some years ago I decided to bend back to my youthful canoeing days and learn to river kayak, I signed up for a class. Around mid-day, exhausted, the oldest by 10 years and not athletic, we flopped sprawling on a rocky beach.. and then it began. Our instructors, a couple of young men about 25 and 35, began to play. There was an elaborate game, no rules but the limits of the boats, as they tried to capsize each other in a deep pool. I watched in growing astonishment as it dawned on me - they were playing, like seals, like puppys! At that moment a deep longing grew in my heart and I became firmly committed to learning to kayak.

Play is essential, and yet we abandon it willingly for "grown-up things."

Kai said...

:-]

have a good day!

Margie said...

I enjoyed this poem very much!
Got me to dreaming of happy bygone days!
Thanks Don!

Margie

Cerebralwaste said...

Very very TOUCHING DON!!! Brings back fond memories of my own.

polona said...

yes, playing by the river...
love it!

dumbdodi said...

Dear Don

Hope alls well with you. Somethings thankfully never change, like my feeling of contentment at your blog, like the instant relationship I build with your words...

Its nice to be back. Missed you

Bob said...

Wonderful. Thank you for finding these words.

trinitystar said...

I just love your childhood stories Don, Tom Sawyer days ... she smiles ... sometimes we forget we can still be children at heart and go for the adventure without worrying ... You should write a book about your childhood days bringing you up to your adult. I would love to read that.
The great Ohio river. Wow!
Thank you for sharing your life with your fellow bloggers. :o)
hugs for you.

Pat Paulk said...

A poem I needed to read this morning. Thanks!!

Dan said...

I know this one.
Nice to see all the days of Don I've missed in the last week...
LOVE!

Kathleen said...

I recognize that photo! :)

another good one Don... I can see you and Danny now... playing together by that river!

Here's to being that child... still... now...

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