The River's Caretaker

There was a man who lived by a river,
He fought with people who had not a sliver-
Of care for this river, or the respect,
That was needed for it to reflect,
All that was good and pure,
This man knew this for sure.
He would give all he had and more,
Just to keep the water clean for
All to enjoy in the future, of course,
In hopes never to have any remorse.

The people were unkind to him,
As his days there were becoming dim.
He continued to fight for the river still,
Even despite the people who got a thrill,
Out of ruining the waters here
With all their trash and cans of beer.
He knew if people could open their mind,
They would surely begin to find,
What he was trying to do here,
Was only to keep the river clear,
For all to enjoy and appreciate so
that all the people who come and go,
May understand this river was blessed,
By a man who kept it clean is best