Leaning

We talked about October, the future, sized up the challenges, the distance

We found focus, planned for little, diminished our expectations

In a familiar place, we watched the rivers lean into each other

We leaned, too, with entangled fingers, hands, the warmth of our knees touching, fall sunlight dancing on our faces

The waters merged in front of us, one snaking from southern plains the other clear water from the mountains close by

Miles in common and little else, the rivers collide rather peacefully, embracing the other just the way it came

A cold, cloudy swirling, to be sure, but two souls finding a way, to float away, leaning downstream together