in the breath
forever caught between –
they held me in their hands
waiting in the stillness
for the clouds to part
for lungs to memorize the cold –
thunder gathered thick
before the storm

then someone said “amen”
and they let go….

and I drifted
like a psalm –
a puff of smoke
spread like morning fog upon the water
held by the wind
rushed by the waves
to gather me home

forever one with the river
forever one with their song
some sat down
others ran beside
forever one with the current
one with their hands

never having to say goodbye
the river took us all

. . .