l/ie 7\lver Sficc
7^//. Ryan
The
stress of school
schedules, and jobs that smile
IS
mountains. jMy heart I
too
^'hen time comes,
rare,
the trees,
is
much
can actually
I
rises
I
get in
with the
my
hills ol
catch flashes of the silver
river.
the cover breaks high on a mountain pass.
around the dark foundations
my
clenching
thoughts relinquishes
descend
I
my
ol the
down
me
for
into the valley.
is
piled with so
become drab,
many
Litchfield
plans,
smells turn mustA',
my
car and head east, over pastures and deep into the
the winding road and remains light in
The road climbs
Down
mountains. its
My mind
today.
weight. Colors
teel their
s
my chest. Through
winding through the woods until the shimmer ol winding water curves
higher,
in the valley,
My head begins
to clear,
and the burden
ol stress
grasp.
The
river
comes
to
my
side
and comforts
me
as a friend.
car under a shad\' maple tree and walk under the sea of leaves to the bank of the ri\er.
The
park
1
smell of
and the current what I have lost and watch my schedules, plans, and |obs slip downstream and out of sight around the bend in the river. Bright green plants wa\'e long streamers against my legs as if to say. "You won't need those here. think, and all Pcrlect vatiT lor IrtHit. hear is the answer of whitewater. unhook the small fly from the long rod in my hand and flick it into action. The line lengthens with e\er\' cast. After many pick a spot where 1 think a big rainbow waits, and casts, release the line. It floats through the air and lies down on the water. The white fly hovers in the air hesitantly then drops perfectly into place on the surface. It drifts with the current past a rock and into a still eddy. I watch unblinking, waiting for a strike. I stand as still as a statue in silence and almost jump when a shadow moves below. I only iniiigined il I think. Suddenly, churmng water and the fly disappears. A quick jerk sets the hook and the line is tight. I feel the weight of a large fish as it panics and swims powerfully around. It sprints up follow, stumbling. It turns the other direction with so much force that I slip and let the line river and go slack. When pull it again, the fish is gone, and my line is broken. sit down on a rock defeated. cannot help but admire that elusive trout and its strength. When it is hooked and held down, earth gi\es comfort of something
seems
to take
still
real in this
world.
I
step into the cold water,
something away from me. Reaching for something
in
my
mind,
I
realize
"
I
I
1
1
i
.
I
I
I
I
it
fights for its life with
The
no weakness. Every thing around
power That
is
why
world were strength
lea\e
I
is
In
mind
is
my
^Aorld,
my in
peace
cluttered and
my
all
seems
drink
world where things hold me down and
necessary tor survival.
environment, a participant
m\'
this river
stalking herons, the leaping trout, the deep-rooted trees,
When
I
am on
the ri\er,
it
pull I
to
in
have that same power.
from the water.
1
need that
me under and come
begin to
teel part
to a
of the
the ecosystem.
is
a rare blessing. Simple, strong people are an endangered species.
heart
runs like a siKer ribbon around the
is
heavy,
I
feet ot the
will
probabU- not be found around town.
mountains
I
11
It
the
When
n\er
still
be there.
38
