Today is the day, but as always I plan to have a birthday month, so I spent yesterday walking beside the river Bovey. This is the result.
Rushing Slowly
I contemplate the transience of the River Bovey.
Every molecule of water that flows past my feet
has a destiny, whether it is to evaporate,
to splash onto the shingle that scratches at my soles,
sink into the peaty soil
or connect with the vastness of the sea.
Every leaf, green, frosted or baked dry by the sun
will crumble, flake along the route
or wash up intact on a beach,
ten or ten thousand miles away.
Every little stick tumbles and rolls
between east and west river bank,
to be claimed by a golden retriever
or gathered by a green consumer
to give home a few minutes of warmth.
From its source between Chagford and Shapley commons,
the Bovey glides, swirls and gushes to merge with the Teign
and rush headlong to the sea.
We are as the smallest drops, the most delicate leaves,
chasing through our three score and ten.
Transient beings, swimming, floating,
crashing against the shore of life,
relentlessly struggling to connect
with the vastness of our race.
Lucid Gypsy 
A beautiful poem my dear Gilly. Happy birthday to you and may all that you wish for yourself be blessed. 🙂
You have so many talents! Lovely poem. Happy Birthday
Just lovely Gilly. Happy Birthmonth to you, enjoy yourself. 🙂
such deep thoughts for your birthday Gilly! yes I agree … we are like water droplets, like autumn leaves, what a gentle teacher your river is … yet some of us have so many pleasures, to meet our friends, to enjoy beauty, to express ourselves, we are so blessed, so wishing many birthday blessings for you dear friend … see you Saturday!
A truly brilliant poem, and I love your title. Happiest of birthdays to you, dear Gilly. ♥
Happy birthday (and month) Gilly xx
A very, very, very happy birthday, Gilly!!! Your poem is truly lovely — just like you. May you experience far more than three score and ten years here.
Beautiful poem. Beautiful photos. Have a most Happy Birthday filled with love and laughter.
An absolutely brilliant poem. I hear, smell, feel the sounds, smells and know the touch of the water. Sparkling writing, Gilly. 🙂 ❤
Awww, Happy Birthday, my dear Gilly and a Happy Birthmonth too! 🙂
What a beautiful way to celebrate it! May your wishes be fulfilled!!!! Hugs and xxxxx 🙂
Happy happy day 🙂
Have a wonderful birth month. I hope every day is more special than the last :).
Wishing you a wonderful June, Gilly, and a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 🙂
Profound!! Warmest birthday wishes dear Gilly….enjoy every moment of your birthday month! 🙂
Inspirational words to contemplate as you go through your birthday month. Your very well written words match your peacefully tranquil photos.
Happy Birthday, Gilly !!!
Hope your birthday is filled with all of the sparkle every birthday gal should have. ❤ hugs ❤
Issy
Better late than never … Happy Birthday to you, one of my closest, very very close blogging friend. 😀
Bless you sweetheart, I had a lovely day and the birthmonth continues 🙂
Happy birth month, Gilly! 🙂 It’s been a nice one so far.
A very happy birthday to you. A happy birth month too 🙂
Wishing you are a wonderful year
Reblogged this on Lucid Gypsy and commented:
Still missing Becky’s squares and not capable of stringing much more than a sentence together this evening, I thought I’d reblog one of my poems. Next to my own River Exe, the Teign is one of my favourite rivers anywhere. This poem is my tribute to it.
What a beautiful meditation on river and life, and wonderful photos too. I love your thoughtfulness and your poems.