The river flows to the sea,
At first I don't know this,
I don't notice the filth in the river,
The further I go the more filthy the water is,
That's odd. There is a man, fighting.
What are you doing? I ask.
I move with the river,
My end shall be in the mud with the debris,
Covered, buried, forgotten.
I know only the river,
It is warm and comfortable,
It lulls me to sleep,
And while I sleep I move,
Downstream.
It covers me and all that is around me equally,
What is to notice?
It is the natural state of things.
Downstream.
But I do not notice.
It is the natural state of things.
Downstream.
Fighting against my comfortable river.
He struggles against my river,
He fights against my river!
Why won't he just go,
Downstream?
You can't fight against the river, you know.
You must go,
Downstream.
He pauses beside me.
Yes,
No,
The water is better, he says,
But you are tired and worn,
No.
But I was further Upstream,
You have mud in your eyes, he says,
I see you clearly,
I have salve for your eyes, he says,
I must be going now, he says,
I will come with you,
Yes.
Yes, please,
He looks just like me.
What are you doing? I ask.
The mud is pulling me down, he says.
I have come from,
Downstream.
But it is warm,
And comfortable,
And everyone goes,
Downstream.
Not everyone he says, goes
Downstream.
And more refreshing,
Upstream.
In your fight.
Isn't it better to go,
Downstream?
I have been Downstream,
I will not stay there.
The water is better here,
Than where I was,
And is better yet,
Upstream.
I protest.
I didn't notice,
It was better there.
And cannot see,
But I see better water,
Upstream.
I have no mud in my eyes!
You are a fool to fight,
Upstream.
That you might see,
The better water that is,
Upstream.
The choice is yours,
Will you, or,
Won't you come,
Upstream?
Though I can't swim as well as you.
Will you help me?
But first I must
Open your eyes.
I want to see,
The better water that is,
Upstream.
Now I see it,
Pure and clean,
Not like the river,
Where I had been.
Had not the pilgrim,
Seen my plight,
I would have struggled,
With all my might,
Struggled and died,
Deep in the mud.
Copyright, Bob Moore, 1999