For all of us, who’ve had a muddy river running through their lives,
Come lay me down along the river
Where my bones forever lie
The muddy water of the Sydenham
Knows our story, as it drifts on by
Hard-scrabble clay churns water brown
Sustains us in this mysterious dream
With boundless joy and sorrow full
The river rolls, a never-ending stream
One conflict looms through the murky haze
An intractable clash, amid pleasure and fear
The struggle met: Our anchor holds
Receding waters start settling clear
We gave our best for what it’s worth
Armed with all we thought we knew
And won, and lost, and loved, and wept
We summon courage, and bid adieu
Loss was forged through gratitude
And gain, by grace, both intertwined
An ethereal journey is now complete
Our legacy left, to the ties that bind
Alongside of those, both young and old
In chiseled stone their names are found
Gone all too soon with nary a trace
Departed souls leave hallowed ground
Interwoven with all those loved afore
Purpose and meaning, are two abreast
Swallowed up in that muddy abyss
A life, well-lived, is laid to rest
Now swept away on radiant waves
I merge with countless points of light
In a luminous blaze of wonderment,
A new dawn shines to chase the night
Forgiveness flows from gentile arms
As I’m enveloped in their warm embrace
A surging confluence of unconditional love
All things reconciled, in this place
No judgements here, no hurt, no pain
All favour, I willingly forego
Abiding faith, exchanged for truth
The veil is lifted…and now I know
Written by Dan Brush
drb.brush@gmail.com
February 9, 2022
