April 26,2020-
The forecast called for no more than two inches of rain, last week.
We planned to take the footbridge,
across the Avalon River.
Imagine everyone’s surprise,
when ten inches fell.
Officials told us,
to stay indoors,
as the flooding was uncontrollable,
and besides,
more rain was now
in the forecast.
Some headed out,
heedless of what
they regarded as
pointless interference.
Yet, the bridge was washed away.
A few took small boats.
Others tied one another to ropes,
and set out on foot.
Still others tried to swim across.
Then, there were those who
tried to pole vault,
or do parkour.
Some drowned,
others were thrown
against the rocks.
still others made it
across,
and developed hydrophobia.
I waited a week,
and saw the waters recede.
As I set out, life jacket in hand,
I heard the voices of those
who stayed in their homes.
“Go back inside”, they shouted,
“there could be ten more inches,
next Tuesday!”
I kept on,
crossed in a sturdy boat,
and reached the opposite bank,
without incident.
(Tuesday came,
and brought three more inches
of rain.
In the aftermath,
the communities co-operated
and built a bridge,
string enough to withstand
a 1000-year deluge.)
Is this a real river or a metaphorical river? There are rivers that need to be crossed and those that should be attempted only with great caution. Knowing that you are not fool-hearty I can be assured that you didn’t take any unnecessary risks. Flood waters can be dangerous ….
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It is, of course, metaphorical. You seem to get my meaning. No, I am not foolhardy.
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