River and Valley

for a long time i stand in light rain looking across the valley

listening to the sound of the river deep in the valley

rushing over stones smoothed by the river

rushing through the valley for a long time


the river flows on without returning

this is the one river of night and day

and i am an apparition of light

unable to resist looking across the valley for a long time


evening folds into itself and night rises behind me

spreading its cloak over the valley

where for a long time the river rushes over smooth stones

and even a long time is not long enough

—with 3.5 lines by W.S. Merwin