…like the moods of a woman

The river runs
like the moods of woman
fickle, ever changing
never predictable
and the surface never reveals
what is hidden below
you only ever see
what she wants you to see
unless the turmoil is so great
that it cannot be disguised

she is seemingly tranquil
but troubled beneath
achingly beautiful
but she is hiding
immeasurable darkness
teeming with life
while death, ever present
stalks her depths
disguised in a summer dress
she is all the colours of the rainbow
and black as night
glassy and still

she waits for the right moment
with stalking, evil intent
able to take your breath away
you can never possess her
nor be a part of her
for she cannot be held
she decides if you stay afloat
or drown within her silken embrace

she rules her own destiny
she can give pleasure
if she chooses
or misery can be the game
dependent on her whim
no reason no design
throwing the dice with abandon
consequences not an issue

you can live beside her
ride upon her currents
even dive within her if you dare
she may let you experience
her pleasure or her pain
she may deny you if she chooses
for she is powerful and vulnerable
in ways you cannot know

she can be destroyed
unthinkingly
she can rise up in vengeance
she can rest in peace
life thrives within her
she is a mother, producing life
protecting it from predators
terrible in defence of what is hers

nurturing and giving
she ever watchful
and she can cast you out
leave you wracked with pain
striving for breath
embrace you for a moment
take you within for all eternity

she can be the love of a lifetime
a partner in all things
she can be the reason you rise
and the reason you fall
bring you to your knees
for love of her, or pain

beauty is around her, everywhere
distracting and enlivening
always incomparable
but never forget
that it is a disguise
and never disregard
what lies behind the mask
© Ann Bagnall