river walking

for m.v. 

we collect choice stones

in comfortable silence

punctuated by bursts 

of delight at agates

interludes of look! and 

see

skip smooth rocks across 

river's surface for hours

wade in, ripples reading us

as if we are young girls

again

lost in play

before paddling home

the closest, she laughs, 

we will probably ever 

come to walking on 

water

ls 9.8.21