The River by Kerry Gittins

​The morning sun shines on muddy banks and the village wakes, as the river flows.
 
Mothers cook pots of steaming rice and curries for breakfast, as the river flows.
 
Children hop on motorbikes that follow the road along the river bank to school, as the river flows.
 
Boats filled with baskets of fish and flowers putt noisily towards the market, as the river flows.
 
Barges piled high with sand and rock headed for the city are pulled along with the tide, as the river flows.
 
Dogs and cats laze in the shade of flame trees trying to hide from the midday sun, as the river flows
 
Storm clouds drift in promising afternoon rain and the air smells fresh and sweet, as the river flows.
 
Fat raindrops smack the Frangipani leaves. Beetles and centipedes scurry for cover, as the river flows.
 
The sky clears and swarms of dragonflies gather above bright pink water lilies, as the river flows.
 
The sun fades while fishermen pull in nets crowded with flapping fish for dinner, as the river flows.
 
The moon rises in the sky as the village settles and families share stories of their day, as the river flows.
 
Time for sleep now as crickets chirp lullabies and night brings dreams of tomorrow, as the river flows.

Photo from Pexels by Quang Nguyen Vinh

The River © Kerry Gittins 2022. All Rights Reserved.