Left home hours ago
barefoot cool earth
night stars
escape
through last of woods
down along the river
slipping into water knee-high
standing a moment
ready to dance
cool tease of deeper waters
stripping to trees
fluttering leaves
branches easing within dark
whispers
someone there
watching
river pulling
neck-deep flow
over sand and rock and roots
on shore the world demon
clawing
moon cut
mother calling
weeping
decision already made
floating down the river
stone blue
blending into depths.
