THE RIVER
by Jerome Heath
profjerryheath@hyahoo.com
"a season of beauty upon the mountains when one
preaches good news"
I see the sun rise in the morning on a new day, on a beautiful day. As the first light of the sun marks the morning so I have seen the first light of a new beginning; so I awaken from darkness into light
A fine mist covers the earth
Distant objects are but shadows
The sun is lost in the mist
But its brightness surrounds me,
feelings
from deep within
feelings
from the soul
feelings
from the body
feelings
so warm and pure
feelings
so timeless
feelings
so strong
feelings
wash the body
feelings
wash the soul
mountains and sky
mountains and sky
the river
flowing by
mountains and sky
mountains and sky
the river
washing by
the river
flowing by
the river
washing by
The sun soon clears the air. An endless view is before me. Grassy hills break into clumps of shrubs. Valley upon valley stretch before me.
mountains and sky
mountains and sky
the river
washing by
washing by us
with feeling
toward us
mountains and sky
forever by us
the river
flowing by
forever
washing by
forever
washing us
with feeling
forever
caring
touching
loving
feelings
from deep within
feelings
from the soul
feelings
so warm and pure
feelings
so timeless
feelings
so strong
feelings
wash the body
feelings
wash the soul
Come with me now as I journey along the banks of the wonderful river of life. It is a deep river and its surface is dark. It is a great river; I can hardly see the other shore. It is a mighty river for I can see the strong currents as it rushes along its course.
Let me look into the river to see the mystery it holds. I see weeping and wailing in the streets. For those who have gone without feeling the rush of the waters is overwhelming. They are filled with fear and loneliness, and it carries them away. What has gone well with them has no meaning and what has gone poorly is a heartache.
mountains and sky
mountains and sky
the river
flowing by
mountains and sky
mountains and sky
the river
filled with feeling
the river
flowing by
washing by
filled with feeling
mountains and sky
mountains and sky
the river
washing by
washing by us
with feeling
toward us
mountains and sky
forever by us
the river
so warm and pure
the river
from deep within
caring
touching
loving
feelings
forever
We will journey on to see the mysteries of the river!
On the left is the river and on the right is the mountain. But the mountain is the mountain of the dead. There is no life on the mountain, only a surface of stone. The mountain appears to be a symbol of strength but there are rock slides and erosion that show the mountain will surely be destroyed by time. Let me tell the mystery of the mountain. There are no tears on the mountain for they have forgotten how to cry. There is no sorrow on the mountain for they have forgotten concern. No, there is no feeling on the mountain for they are already dead that are on the mountain.
feelings
from deep within
feelings
from the soul
the river
from deep within
feelings
so warm and pure
feelings
so timeless
the river
so strong
feelings
wash the body
feelings
wash the soul
We come to the canyons. These are dark canyons which are filled with mystery. For there are sounds in the canyons; strange sounds that echo a thousand times throughout the deep darkness.
I will look into the canyons for you to tell you of their mystery. The canyons are the dried up tributaries of the river of life. The walls of the canyons are the laws of death, a covenant with death. The echoes one hears are the words repeated without understanding - without meaning. The deep darkness in the canyons is the emptiness within, for there are no feelings in the canyons.
mountains and sky
mountains and sky
the river
washing by
mountains and sky
mountains and sky
feelings
flowing by
so warm and pure
washing by
so timeless
flowing by
so strong
washing by
wash the body
the river
wash the soul
feelings
Let us not tarry long at the entrances to the canyons, for their mystery is great. It is time to follow the river to its source.
I hear the sound of the rapids. The song of the river at full volume roars in our ears:
"The meaning of the river is its source."
Now I see the rapids ahead, as water rushes past large stones. I see violence and destruction, cries of terror and screams of torment. Men seek fulfillment in stone and the force washes their life away.
mountain and sky
mountain and sky
the river
flowing by
mountains and sky
mountains and sky
the river
washing by
the river
washing by
the river
filled with feeling
mountains and sky
mountains and sky
the river
washing by
washing by us
with feeling
toward us
mountains and sky
forever by us
washing us
with feeling
forever
caring
touching
loving
feelings
forever
A narrow path up a sheer cliff leads upward towards the source of the river. There is only one way out. And the sheer cliff has a name. It is called THE LAW. And the law says:
"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day you eat of it you shall die."
Warm rains fall, like the tears of a child, washing the sorrow away, so the earth is good once again. With the water the river of life is filled carrying the ashes of sin to the sea.
I feel a cool breeze on my cheeks
The long hard day is nearly past
A warm glow is on the horizon
My journey is ending
I see a. grave. I see the ground above the grave break open and a man sits up in his grave. He gets up out of his grave and walks away.
I see a river of clear sparkling water bordered by rock strewn slopes of tree covered hills. A multitude comes to the edge of the water. Some kneel down to drink while others wade into the water. But I dive headlong into the water.
I see two hands break the surface of the water to lift me, now a child upon a rock. The child sees a world never before seen. All about is a world aglow as if on fire. Trees, bushes, and rocks appear to be on fire. But the fire does not consume.
why is the river so different
why is it so bright
why is the river so different
why is it so clear
why is the river so different
why is it so sparkling
I`ve seen this river before
but never like this
I`ve known this river before
but never so wonderful
flowing
washing
sparkling
singing
like never before
so bright
so clear
so wonderful
by Jerome Heath
profjerryheath@hyahoo.com
A Time of Passing
Thesis and Antithesis
Background Picture by Valerie Heath