Down
by the fast flowing river
The soft green grass a welcome seat
A measured time for relaxation
A moments pause to rest my feet
The warm soft breeze gently astir
Made little partings in my hair
I felt my tired eyes slowly closing
Slowly then I took to dozing
There upon the river bank
Presently my body wakened to
a most incessant sound
It was not the village churchbell
Just the baying of a hound
I stumbled up from where I sat
Upon my head I placed my hat
Then thought to look around
This action was quite to my liking
I really had set out for hiking
And such a pleasant place had found
The rippling river running by
Caught bright reflections from the sky
And there upon a green mossed log
The throaty chorus of a frog
While over smoothly polished stones
The water stirred its tinkling tones
How peaceful this all seemed to be
The river flowing to the sea
I felt that I was truly blest
Then I hiked home to get some rest
Frank Paylor
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
July 20, 1996