The River Cabin Rendezvous

"The River Cabin Rendezvous"



Waiting-
Wind picked up to a racer's pace, matching my pulse.
Effervescent bubbles of a romantic thought
dance in my heart, with anticipation of seeing you again.
An empty river cabin in the woods will smile upon our reunion.

Waiting-
Warm sun and long cool shadows tree-scented, orchestrated
an October 'highway-hoe-down' essence on the pavement,
performing alongside a river's path, as I arrive at our meeting place.

Waiting-
A painter's dream. Washes blend soft gold and amber hues;
a kaleidoscope against a darkening background. Sky's light
will soon drop behind bluffs, silhouetting thinning trees
on the other side of a long meandering grey ribbon of choppy water.

Waiting-
The new season pens its colorful lyrics; whimsical wind songs
accompanied by squirrel chatter and their scampering feet
through dried leaves, pine cones, and pine straw fallen
on the forest floor. Above my usual sitting place, on a large river rock
where I wait, a familiar coniferous-canopy continues waving whispers;
our secrets of a tryst. Ah, trees remember our annual visits.

Waiting-
A blanket of darkness cocoons me. I continue to wait.
For you Sweetheart, I wait.
Plop plop. Heavy raindrops reaching for me under the trees give
the air and spirit a fresh washing. A soul cleansing needed. Plop.
Leading from there to the empty cabin, muted-colors
rain on the stone pavers, leaving wet leaf-shaped tattoos.
Not to be confused with tear stains.
Memories stir from the spritz of earthy incense, damp leaves,
and smoke of a doused fire from someone's nearby fire-pit;
         the glow of a campfire highlights your handsome face,
         snapping and hissing of burning logs accent your voice
         when you claim, "our love always".

Still waiting-
Walls of an empty river cabin in the woods are forever imprinted
with images recording our meeting times, forming an artist's mural;
laughter and stories of our lives, together and apart, told and and retold.
Our reunions continued to echo, as love remains waiting for our
countless returns; to the now empty river cabin in the woods.






40 lines
Free verse poem
Contest: poetry entry for Write From the Heart.
Inspired writing during a cabin stay at Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton, Illinois, overlooking the Illinois River.