Nestled in the valley of hope <br />Down by the river of dreams <br />A beautiful girl with silvery hair <br />Ponders her future, unpicking the seams <br /> <br />She circles a twig in the water <br />Waits until the twirling blue subsides <br />She looks at herself in this mirror <br />And doesn't like what she finds <br /> <br />You see, in this natural looking-glass <br />She can stare into the windows of her soul <br />See what is masked by the beauty <br />A heart that feels hollow and old <br /> <br />This cinderella-like creature <br />Who, has let far too many years pass <br />Sees the lines etched on her face <br />They can't be erased, they will always last <br /> <br />But the scars run deeper on the inside <br />They are raw and vivid and red <br />The balm of life won't soothe them <br />Until her misgivings have all been said <br /> <br />So, from this point, where does she turn? <br />How does she change this life of hers? <br />Sitting all alone by the bank of the river <br />Being watched by the wise green firs <br /> <br />She looks to the skies for inspiration <br />She lets the sun bathe her face in gold <br />But the only answers she'll find are within <br />It was a long time ago, her soul was sold <br /> <br />She gently rises to her bare feet <br />Looks left and then right, not sure <br />Should she walk along the path of truth <br />Or surrender to the sweetness of dark <br /> <br />This lost, lonely mannequin <br />Loosens the velvet ribbon from her hair <br />She tosses it into the water and watches <br />As it floats away, but she's not scared <br /> <br />Suddenly she realises the answer <br />She feels calm and smiles to herself <br />Gently letting the coolness pool around her <br />She waits until there's nothing else.....<br /><br />Michelle Tiddy<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/by-the-bank-of-the-river/
