within the river bed lies a relationship
a relationship between the water and the elements of the bed
these elements these waters
they mingle, they tangle, they balance, they harmonize

the rocks, an element plentiful in numbers
allows the water to reduce their size, increasing their numbers
so many more, so much smaller, so diverse in personalities
these rocks eventually turn into grains, of sand

the sand element derives from the rock and water relationship
it binds together the rocks from which it came
it gives shape and girth to the bed and the banks
it is the slippery structure for all else to lay, and the water to move

the wood element is mostly old and gone
it has been stripped of bark and dried of fluid
gray from the sun, soft from the movement of sand
it tangles on the banks and resides high where it was abandoned

the plant element is alive on the edges, it struggles in the mainstream
it thrives on the fringe with leaves green and roots of deep
when centered in the masses it clings to the sand striving for moisture
striving to grow but only to remain small, to remain vulnerable

the water element works to create the bed from which is lies
the bed can be shaped but the bed cannot be escaped
and so within its own fate the water ebbs and flows
it flows to foster change, it ebbs to allow for space

the air element is cool at the surface, it warms just closer to the sun
the air is pushed by a current into a state of turbulence
an eddy swings it back around to calm and relax
and in the sun-warmed rocks, the air settles and heats

within the river bed lies a relationship
a relationship between the water and the elements of the bed
these elements these waters
they mingle, they tangle, they balance, they harmonize