The River Flowed (Neal Dachstadter)

The River Flowed
 «Neal Dachstadter»

From canyon cliff with cloudy sheen
Down gradient steep, severe and clean,
In draw, on bench, in tumbling stream,
Cold waters fell, with snow-melt green

To roots of Pine descending dank
Below the silted river bank,
With Aspen melding rank on rank,
The River flowed, and ever drank.

When men of gold descended, lank,
Then pans into the water sank,
Emerging bright, or merely blank
For humble shant or mansion swank

In busy towns along the flank,
Rich mercantiles with “clink” and “clank”
Mid prosperous echo “…Ma’am we thank”
The River flowed, and ever drank.

For roving Gambler (silken hank),
For weary Pioneer and Yank,
For Teacher, Parson, Doctor? Crank?
And Hickory stick, for boyhood prank,

Past screaming blade and sawmill plank,
Neath bell and steeple, water tank,
Mid frontier word, not minced but frank,
The River flowed, and ever drank.

Primeval birth or sands that sink,
Mid ancient day and future brink,
All time is present, e’er we think,
The River flows, and ever drinks.