My Waterfall…

This is My Waterfall

I started building a waterfall

The day after  I was born

My parents added rocks and twigs

And a few leaves, albeit torn

–

As years went on-

They added more

To make it more beautiful

Than the years before

–

I played on the farm

And collected shells

I collected flowers

I admired the well                                        [a watersource]

–

And then, it was time

To meet some new friends

It was time to show off

The waterfall and then…

–

Something happened

The waterfall was dry

There were no drops

Of water as the years went by

–

And then, all of a sudden,

It happened overnight

The water, it trickled

And so began my plight

–

Your teeth, they are  funny

You look like this                                                       [beaver teeth]

The weird way you walk and

You smell like a fish

–

I had a grandmother

Who watched the waterfall flow

I had a dear friend

It was tough, she said so

–

I walked a little farther

I would walk down the road

I danced,  I jogged,  I cried

It helped lessen the load

–

And, I can honestly say

The teasing never stopped

If it wasn’t this, it wasn’t that

My happy bubble popped

–

My grandmother, she’d say

Just never say ‘hate’

You need not like the sinner

But, you can’t  say ‘hate’, just wait

–

Some day you’ll understand

My little chick-a-dee

Some time, you’ll know that

You’re as strong as can be

–

The waterfall it trickled

The waterfall it ran

The waterfall it rippled

It was according to plan

–

Oh, grandmother

I can see now

I see water in the ‘fall’

I can see it coming

Over the ridge and the wall

–

But, grandmother

It hurts, this gently

running river

And, grandmother

It stings, like a bee

bite can deliver

–

My little one,

You wanted water

And a waterfall, too

My little one,

You wanted beauty

This waterfall, it’s you

–

I never wanted the pain

I never wanted the tears

I never wanted the river

That brought injustice and fears

–

And, she said

In a quiet little voice

But, your parents gave

you a chance,

They gave you a choice

–

You could avoid the rain

But, you’d miss all o’ the joy

You could avoid the thunder

And miss  ‘missing that boy’

–

You could avoid the sunburn

And avoid the cockleburrs

You could avoid it and run

But, not escape your fears

–

The river, a waterfall flows

Over and around the trees

You have to go through it,

You will learn this, you’ll see

–

But, a waterfall was built

And the waterfall it flows

There’s nothing I can do

How to stop it, no one knows

–

I went down to the waterfall

I sang songs, I skipped rocks

I chased ponies and frogs

I ran through corn stalks

–

I began to understand

That my life was a gift

My parents didn’t wish for me

the pain or  lack of bliss

–

But in order to feel

In order to glow

In order to shine

In order to know

–

If the water fall

was meant to run over

If the water fall

was to highlight the clover

–

It had to run

You had to cry

That’s how it is

I don’t know why

–

I stopped and looked

What beauty I see

The rocks and the water

The sounds; they reflect me

–

I will let that waterfall be

I will let it run, too

I will not hold back

Because grandmother knew

–

In order to live,

In order to grow

Let the tears come

Let the wind blow

–

You can’t stop it

Or fight it

The water,  wind blowing

Just enjoy the beauty

of a waterfall flowing

–

*Sandy S Zoo* 2010* Copyright*

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED