River’s Edge

River’s Edge

I walk down to the river’s edge,
my place to unwind and forget.
Step into the soothing currents,
treading on limestone cool and wet.

Like a giant cobweb hanging,
I shake off distant memories.
I clear my mind of doubt and fear
in the woods of serenity.

I search for berries in the wild,
beckoning from their nurtured vines.
Their taste is like your gentle kiss,
as sweet as elderberry wine.

Melodic birdsong fills the air,
as catbirds warble joy and loss.
They settle in their hidden nests
crafted from maple twigs and moss.

And when the red sun sinks at last,
I channel summer’s golden glow.
The river provides me solace
and space for me to heal and grow.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2026
July 18, 2026

Happy Saturday Night! We have finally gotten some relief from the heat wave today. Scattered thunderstorms moved through our area, and seemed to help dissipate the Canadian wildfire smoke. I’ve been playing it safe and exercising indoors the past few days.

I think this poem evolved from recognizing the big role that a body of water plays in my life. I imagined myself walking down to the river’s edge and absorbing the calming beauty of nature. I do this when I jog around our neighborhood lake. I have had the privilege to witness bald eagles, hawks, osprey, blue herons, beavers with their young babies, bunny rabbits, Canadian geese and their goslings, deer and their fawns, turtles, nimble swallows, the hoot of owls, beautiful sunsets and moonrises. My favorite time to run is in early evening, right as the sun is setting. This is also when nature seems to come alive. I don’t run to break personal records – I do it for the stress relief and the anxiety reduction. I’ve been known to stop frequently on the trail to take pictures of the sunset, moon, and various wildlife.

There is something so calming about being around water…. whether it’s an ocean, lake, river, bay, creek or pond. I always found walking the beaches of Captiva to be especially soothing when we lived in Florida. There you have the additional wildlife of manatees, dolphins, osprey, stingrays and other sea creatures to take your breath away. I really miss that place, and of being able to go there once a year on vacation. There’s really no place quite like it, and we made so many happy memories there during our 24 years in Florida. One day I know we will return there.

Until then, I’ll keep enjoying the beauty of the lake that is in my backyard. Have a great weekend! Xoxo

Love,
Colleen

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 3.18 – The River’s Edge
Hard Bonus: Include a lyric from Elton John (“like a giant cobweb hanging,” “elderberry wine” & “when the red sun sinks at last”)
Easy Bonus: Incorporate moss and twigs