we took a vow of silence
but it was anything but silent
rivulets of water
and thunder at the base
of the falls—
we tried to find stillness
but it was anything but still
filigree alder leaves
flashing in the breeze
the slow sway of pines
and so we abandoned
absolutes in lieu of ablution
the staggering coldness
of the river
glacier-fed
my heart beating again
OPTIONAL POETRY 