Memory as desire - A place as friend

This poem is from a submission I made in 2012 that required it be set in a real place, hence the description at the bottom. It was rejected, (along with hundreds of other poems to various publications that I've submitted to over the years), but that doesn't mean it isn't worthwhile. 

I hope you like it.

The Veins of a friend and a friend in vain

I

Dark river waters

I cannot see my reflection

Brown earth liquid flows

Yet I know

Even at this young age

That I’ll always be with you

Even if after today

I never see you again

Slow perpetual wonderings

Leaving me behind.

II

The river bank imbued

With the corpses

Of trees

Limbs

Reaching out

Clinging to the water

In memory

Perpetually changing

Forever dying

Bringing life.

III

I return

Yet

My past is lost here

It’s already too late

I’ve grown older

So far removed

From how it used to be

And what is to come?

It used to be easy

But now I’m frozen.

Location: Campbell’s Bend, Victoria.

I grew up in a tiny town on the banks of the Goulburn. I spent many summers swimming in this particular location and in fact, I learnt to swim there. As a teenager, I got drunk there, took drugs there and had sex there. My first published book, Bottomless River is set there. (available to read for free).

I have not been back for many years. I’m almost too frightened to, in case I don’t recognise it anymore. The physicality of a river changes as much as people. However, I do hope that families and other youngsters are having as much fun now as I once did.

Paddle steamer at work - 1878 - slightly before my time

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