Meditations During a Walk

Here in a backwater
Sits a man who loves
The river, Willamette

Here sit I and write
At the lowest place in town

No grass grows here
Nor plants of any kind
I see no fish for sport
Nor have I found a single rat

I am alone beside the River
Logs and freeway towers rest
And keep my company

At other times I've found life
A bundle by a fire, a hobo
He looked at me, I passed
We both knew of loneliness
Both of us were free

Now I'm here again, alone
A slice of giant tree floats by
And I know again, alone
That life is not alone
Among the living