Old Seventy Creek is 40+ miles
from Columbia.
If I put off my desire to walk
until after church today,
I can take an afternoon walk
along the mysterious creek
that appears out of the ground
& disappears underground
miles from its source
only to emerge from the Sink
a short distance beyond.

No doubt, my desire for you
dictates that I walk this morning
so I have trespassed property
that is for sale
not far from Short Street
to walk along a creek,
its name unknown to me.
Its name is unimportant.
It originates from a cave
smaller than the cave that spews
out Old Seventy Creek.

As I walk, I fall in love
with the stream & its
Ginseng growing in the shade
above the limestone cliff.
The history of the creek
has stained its water rounded stones
a copper & brown color
as beautiful as your skin.
I don’t try to kid myself.
I fall in love with you again.
You are the sound of the water’s flowing.

-Rudy Thomas