By the River

I would take you

to the river,

green water,

stars above,

quiet,

peaceful,

ripe for secrets,

if only

you would share

for an hour,

for a night,

take a chance,

put your troubles

in a basket

in the water

and let it float away.

Sins of the flesh

need not be sins

of the heart,

but you saw danger,

blinked first,

and doubted.

Forget what you think

you know.

Dare to trust,
leave your nest.

Take my hand

and be my

co-conspirator,

my accomplice,

clever partner

in a crime

that is no crime,

soon forgotten

here by the river,

where by morning

all our memories

will be swept away.

This was written for The Sunday Whirl.