River Song – a poem by Diane Elayne Dees

River Song


The wind was strong, the day was bright and cold.
My leg hurt, but I let the sunshine guide me
to the river, which was sparkling blue and gold.
With dragonflies and swooping hawks beside me,
and Folklore in my ears, I felt the pain
of a broken heart and body. And I heard
a haunting, sometimes sorrowful, refrain,
which touched me, note for note, and word for word.
I marveled at the sunlit trees’ reflection
on the water, and I felt my heart expand
to capture this brief moment of perfection,
when music, light and watercolors blend.
I walked home swiftly, the sunshine still my guide,
while pain and beauty never left my side.

Diane Elayne Dees is the author of the chapbook, Coronary Truth (Kelsay Books), and the forthcoming chapbook, The Last Time I Saw You. Diane, who lives in Covington, Louisiana, also publishes Women Who Serve, a blog that delivers news and commentary on women’s professional tennis throughout the world.