Currents

 

Currents

 

Hear now son, tale seldom told,

Of rivermen both brave and bold,

And hear also, the riversong,

And how the current is swift and strong.

 

Once upon this river wide,

Barges rowed by men were plied,

Against strong current they strode,

Barges swift and deep they rowed.

 

And one such barge bore Captain’s boast:

His men rowed faster than most.

So, he made this statement bold:

He would bet his barge against any gold.

 

They did row the river wide,

From the mountains to the tide.

Now the stream flows swift and strong,

To the currents they belonged.

 

Now, many captains thought they were best,

They resolved this boast to test.

From pier to pier a race would go,

To declare which barge was the swiftest row.

 

So soon they came upon the day,

To settle which captain could say,

Which barge swiftest rode river wide,

Which barge could course with pride.

 

See the barges under the morning sun,

See them straining for the starting gun.

The shot rings out and backs are bent,

To the swiftest path of the current.

 

Now they row the river wide,

From the mountains to the tide.

Now the stream flows swift and strong,

To the currents they belong.

 

Boasting Captain and his barge take the lead.

To stay in front is his only heed.

When the youngest rower goes overside,

He is left behind to attempt the tide.

 

For this Captain’s boast was too often told,

And his pockets hunger much for gold.

Captain cries, “A pity he wasn’t strong!”

“To the currents he belongs.”

 

Now upriver comes a sudden storm.

A tempest it is, a cyclone form.

Now upon the waters is the barge tossed,

Now Captain and rowers fear they are lost.

 

But these are rivermen brave and bold,

And somehow the barge remains controlled.

At last, through cloud the sun has shone,

And the bargemen find they are alone.

 

So, they row through day and night,

To find no other barge is in sight.

But neither could they find the shore,

They could do naught than row more.

 

To this day they row river wide,

From the mountains to the tide.

It is they that make the currents strong;

To these currents they belong.

 

They row swift and they row long,

To the currents they belong.

Their lost rower watches from far shore,

Watches as they row forevermore.

 

Cliff Lake 5/25/2024

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