The River's Son

Coauthored by Sheila Kline. In memory of Sheila's beloved husband, Barry--The River's Son

In memoriam of Barry Kline, beloved husband of our own Sheila Kline of WritersCafe.org, with much respect and love.

The River's Son

 

The Son of the River watched whitewater waves

He knew in his heart that this challenge he'd brave

For this was his passion, a deep inner zeal

He'd risk all assuaging the River's appeal.

 

The struggle would be on The Mighty Lehigh

He'd rush down the mountains with skill keen and spry

He'd lace between rocks and the branches of trees

Boat dipping and tossing, alive and so free!

 

In winter the waters were stopped with their ice

He waited impatient for this was the price

The River extracted from Son brave and true

But spring thaw was coming with pleasures anew.

 

And now late in years, the wild River's Son rests

He longs for his boat and the River to best

No longer he braves the fierce waves of today

But yet in his mind, he continues to play!

 

Oh, River remember your Most Favored Son

To You he gave all when his life was so young!

He cherished Your freedom for all of his life

He thinks of it still in his hours of strife

 

And please rage forever with most frothy churn

It's Your joy of living for which Men most yearn

And when at the end we do lay down to rest

It's You we'll remember and how we were blessed.

 

 

 

©2009 Sheila Kline and Richard Puetter

All rights reserved.

Reviews

[Sheila Kline]

Dear Rick!

When I clicked on the forum today to check for messages before leaving for my trip, I found this beautiful, and exquiste tribute that you have written with my sentiments for Barry!

We all have different styles of writing, and when I compare how you have used your wonderful knowledge of meter, and format, and kindness to compose this loving tribute to Barry, I am truly touched and moved to tears! Your heart is so very compassionate that it shines in every word that you have written!

To say I love it is an understatement, to say that it is awesome is an understatement, and I am really quite speechless as to what to say, but THANK YOU!!

You have used my thoughts of him, and sharpened the photo so clearly that it looks as if he is just going to paddle right off the page into the memory of "forever"!

I don't think he could have ever dreamed of this....that his paddling The Lehigh River would ever inspire someone to write such a masterpiece...and it is truly a MASTERPIECE!! I don't think that I ever expected such as this....you are a dear person, and a dear friend to so many here on Writer's Cafe. May you always receive as much kindness and love as you give to others!!

With Sincerest of Appreciation!!
p.s. I am framing this and reading it when we inter his ashes in the fall!!

Sheila

[JC]

Beautiful from beginning to end. I love the imagery.


JC

[Scott Free]

This is great, Rick and Sheila. A wonderful sentiment about a wonderful friend; a great tribute.
Tributes often seem only touching to the people who knew the tributee, but this really just touched me. I stand in awe.
Very good, Rick. And Sheila. Write on, you two!

~Scott

[Legion]

A fitting tribute. Well done.

[Ellen Hammond]

This is such a wonderful tribute to Barry and his life long passion. The pic is so clear its just awesome. The rhyme and flow make this a great masterpiece which is pure joy to read.

[Mark]

A really awesome write, you guys...I knew near nothing about Barry, save for his love of the outdoors in general, and whitewater rafting in particular. I would analogize a run down the Lehigh to a man's run through life, with the unexpected lurking at every bend, requiring the accumulated skills of his life-to-date to negotiate them, and finally to anticipate them. A most surprising tribute, if I may say! Thank you both!

[emmajoy]

A fine tribute and a fine co-authorship.

Using white water is a tough experience, to come through one needs to be prepared, steady, expert and brave; if Barry lived on land as he moved on water, he was a very special man.

Thank you for sharing such lovely words.