ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

When you live in a city built on a river which stretches through the middle of the entire country, you grow to expect delays.  Commerce and industry have invaded this town of mine and created roads, highways and bridges throughout.  It is a bustling city, filled with those wanting to reach their destination quickly.

Thinking back to another time – a long ago time – when people didn’t rush so much or need to get somewhere in a hurry – That same river was here. The landscape has changed over the years, but the river remains the same.  Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn floated on a log raft on the lazy days of summer.  A row boat with a couple fishermen found little spots that yielded an abundance of fish.  Logs floated down the mighty Mississippi to be cut into lumber.  French Canadians and Native Americans journeyed in voyageur canoes to find new places to live or sell their furs. It has always been a means of getting from one place to another and to transport goods.

Some folks use the banks of that river to set up a temporary camp as they travel homeless across country in search of a new life.  Some set their canoes in the river for a romantic cruise.  Others actually set up their homes on that same waterway.

Imagine living in a house atop the water.  Imagine the waves lapping up against the bow, gently waking you each morning.  Try to think of being rocked to sleep by the current below.  The smells of rich soil – the sounds of birds singing – the touch of cool, refreshment – the sight of clouds billowing overhead and the sun pushing its way through the leaves – the taste of a gnat who forced his way into your mouth.

Life on the river can carry you off to places you have never seen,

It winds through great cities and into small towns, with areas filled with green,

This great waterway has traveled so long, remaining the same yet it’s changed,

It still keeps on rolling and says not a word, though years have much rearranged,

Still when we let go of our mundane lives, when we want to follow our dreams,

Step out of the box and into a boat, make your house the river and streams.