Jesus walked on water
but you and I went alongside
rivers usually, trekking
backwards, back to the source
as if some Holy Grail
or was it just to witness
a mighty birth?

We roamed at ease
riparian paths
the straights, the canalised
without recourse to maps
or hurried, driven by curiosity
the just-round-the-bends
Black Poplars overhanging
osiers turning red
in Autumn,

I recall all the crossings
where the path swapped banks;
locks besides turbulent waters
and bridges, metal, brick lined 
ancient ones, mirrored into spheres
wide enough for donkeys, drovers
stone walled, to sit and consider
nothing much at all.

At the fords, we bathed our feet
dusty, muddied or hot.
This was our element then
One Pisces, one Leo, just content.

24 thoughts on “The two of us”

1. Achingly beautiful, Laura. I love the bridges mirrored into spheres.

   1. thank you Lisa – yes the small bridges are exceptionally mirrored

      1. You’re welcome.

2. The process of walking in unison binds a couple together stronger… I can feel the ache of what’s gone… love it.

   1. having just done your walk as a couple you will know what that absence means – thank you for the prompt too

3. You did more than touch on Björn’s prompt and you make the case for walking together bringing people closer whilst taking us along with you, Laura…

   1. thanks so much for walking along here with me

4. Beautifully penned, Laura.

   1. ❤ Roberta

5. One wonders what happened? The then so beautiful and what is the now like?

   1. thank you for noticing the then vs now – this is what the latter has become

      Dedication – PoetryPix

      1. The image I had was of two young lovers who either split up, which made me wonder why as it seemed such a wonderful relationship, or got married and had kids so left with no time (or energy). 😂 Six years grieving and counting.

         1. I really appreciate you following up with the link and understanding the poem even more

6. Your poem made me smile and cry at the same time, Laura, it’s so relatable. I especially like these lines, as they remind me of our wanderings:

   ‘the straights, the canalised
   without recourse to maps
   or hurried, driven by curiosity
   the just-round-the-bends’.

   1. its why I loved to walk the rivers with Martin so much as we did not need maps – we even walked the Thames to the source

   2. relatable is good to know Kim as how else can poetry touch us – thank you

      1. My pleasure, Laura.

7. Oh Laura .. this is such an exquisitely beautiful poem .. so poignant in its remembrance .. I am especially moved by these lines: “We roamed at ease riparian paths, the straights, the canalised.” 💜💜💜

   1. thank you for your sensitive words Sanaa x

8. Beautiful immersion in nature Laura. Thank you! “What’s around the bend” or “What’s over the crest” fueled my hiking and exploration my entire life, until I could no more. Wonderful write my friend. 🙂✌🏼🫶🏼

   1. thank you Rob – am becoming almost an armchair walker now by comparison – hey ho for heydays

9. “I recall all the crossings” captures the essence of the poem. I see it unfurling like watching a movie, young lovers, then one remembering superimposed. There and not. So poignant, Laura. So beautiful and sad.

   1. thank you for listening and watching the poem with such heartfelt understanding

      1. You’re very welcome, Laura.

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