89 The River
Sitting on warm rocks in the middle of the sandy river bed watching the sunset: the clear sky turning pink, then a rich wine colour over the pine trees. Crows fly low over the land from shore to shore in search of their roosting tree, and their strong wings beat methodically through the air. Around the room are marsh reeds and grasses, and as night falls crickets and frogs wake, and the seeming desert of the sands is now peopled by many creatures signalling back and forth excitedly.
I’ve been coming out here in the evenings for the past few days as the moon approached its waxing, and we’ve had a series of cloud-free sunsets. As daylight fades a few stars appear, and eventually form themselves into constellations. We’re around the time of the autumn equinox, and Scorpio and Libra are at the zenith.
Today is the day after the full moon and as I turned around tonight looking for further constellations, there was the moon, a huge orange ball glowing just above the riverbed. As I sat and watched it slowly ascended the heavens and took on a more distinct form in the clear night air, and became bright enough to cast shadows. Then suddenly a strong easterly wind began to blow, the first of the season, and this change of winds is the first sign of the coming monsoon, which hits this part of the country in about a month’s time.
A Day at the River (10 scenes)
Early morning, stars overhead,
I sit on the sands in great silence.
The river here no longer flows,
the still waters reflect the sky.
Turning I see that clouds are tinged
with pink and red; day is dawning.
Children cry out in new found joy,
their voices blend with the birdsong.
Young women walk in single file
with metal pots balanced on heads.
Hot noon-day sun beats down upon
young man who walks across the sands.
An old man sits on an old board,
when he gets up, he’s bent double.
As the sun sets over the pines
the temple bells ring out once more.
Under the stars fading flowers
are strewn around burial mounds.
The morning rain wipes clean away
all the footprints of yesterday.