poem: do not kick up the mud

paddling the raft
to the rivers’ far shore
encountering rough waters

falling off
sinking to the bottom
fearful and thrashing about

kicking up the muddy bottom
everything obliterated
in the dark, cloudy water

dimly the stalk of a lotus
appears and the paddler
climbs back to the waters surface

when hitting rough waters
on your journey
do not kick up the mud

like the lotus plant
firmly rooted in the mud
raise a flower to the heavens

Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
January 6, 2021

images
here&now working poetry logo
photos by Herb Stone