tangled in filament
fishing lures weighted down by memory
and forgetfulness
I ramble thru the weeds and rushes
counting damsel fly wings
and catfish whiskers
haze draws blue against the fragrant cedars
the color of frost in the heat of the morning
and my skin smells of fish scales
and my hair, the wildness of the rivers glory
the road is too dusty so
I follow maps drawn by dragonflies
cartography etched in delicate wings
the waters coursing
blood veined tributaries
ebbing and rising
ventricles and aortas
scribed deep blue across the parchment
and my skin smells of mussel shells
and my hair, the glory of the rivers wildness
*** I have been dreaming almost every night recently, of rivers and moving water. Thought this interpretation was interesting and hit pretty close to home.
‘Rivers – Rivers symbolize your journey in life whether its physical or spiritual one. If the river water is flowing fast it can mean rapid changes might occur soon. It is also possible that you feel out of control in your life and need to slow down. If the river is calm and peaceful it means being comfortable with the changes in your waking life.’ DreamDictionary.org
thecourseofourseasons 
This was very lyrical to read ~ I love how you shifted the refrain my skin, my hair to emphasize the sensations of river dream ~
so happy you thought so – it has been odd dreaming so much of rivers and water – K
O to wake smelling as if I’d been fishing since 4 AM, sitting on fallen trees on river bank, wind in my hair, the only company live and expires winged creatures! Maybe your narrator was sleep walking! Your imagery and repetition evokes water and more water and freshwater fish for breakfast..
Susan – you and I need to go fishing for breakfast sometime! – thank you for the wonderful note and for your kind words – smiles – K
When you become one with the river like that.. you are locked to that artery of nature.. so many wonderful images.. of fish-scales and mussels. and the dragonflies…
“The wildness of the rivers glory” *sigh
I enjoyed your ‘river journey,’ Kathleen & also the interpretation of what rivers mean in dreams. I enjoyed ‘maps drawn by dragonflies’ and ‘the glory of the river’s wildness.’ Perfection!
I enjoyed the dreamy atmosphere you recreated here. I too like the image of following ‘maps drawn by dragonflies’. A beautiful poem, Kathleen.
love this uniting with the river…a beautiful flow…
First, I fell in love with your title, which is wonderful. Then the water coursing through the poem. Loved how you repeated the line about your hair and the river’s wildness, changing it up the second time . The maps drawn by dragonflies is brilliant. I simply love this poem!
Beautiful imagery. Very soothing. Love this.
dragonfly maps may be the best to follow…ha….and nothing wrong with smelling like the wildness of the river either…you know…smiles.