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| "I couldn't explain what moved beneath the water. The trees above were perfectly still, yet something disturbed their reflections. I wanted to look closer, but a little voice inside me told me to stay where I was. Even now, I wonder what I might have seen." |
Greetings from the Water's Edge
Have you ever watched dark water and wondered what might be watching you?
Stay beside me a moment, but perhaps not too close.
When the Water Grew Still
I've always been curious about what lies below the surface of a river. In shallow water, I love watching little fish dart between stones and sunlight dancing across the riverbed. But deeper water holds a different kind of fascination. I discovered that one afternoon beside a quiet stretch of river, where tall trees leaned over the banks and their reflections darkened the water. It was beautiful, although something about that stillness made me hesitate before stepping closer.
Something Beneath the Surface
At first, I thought a branch was moving in the breeze, but the leaves above me were perfectly still. Something dark passed slowly through the water, disturbing the reflection without breaking the surface. I watched, trying to decide whether it was a large fish, a submerged log or something else entirely. My curiosity urged me closer, yet an uneasy feeling kept my feet firmly on the bank. I couldn't explain what I'd seen, and that troubled me more than I wanted to admit.
A Mystery I Carried Home
That afternoon inspired my free verse poem, Not Everything Was a Reflection. I wanted to capture how quickly fascination can become fear when nature reveals something we don't understand. I still love the mystery of deep rivers, even when their darkness unsettles me. Perhaps what I saw had a perfectly ordinary explanation. I'd certainly like to believe so. But I remember looking back before leaving and seeing the trees reflected perfectly in the water again. Everything appeared just as it had before, and somehow, that frightened me most.
Not Everything Was a Reflection
Free Verse Poem by Khalia Wildawn
The river was holding the trees
so perfectly upon its face,
I could count the smallest branches
in a world turned upside down.
I stood where the bank grew steep,
watching the afternoon darken the water,
wondering how far the sunlight reached
before the depths swallowed its gold.
Then something moved.
Not a ripple from the current,
not a shadow cast by passing clouds,
but a darkness sliding through the reflections
where nothing above had stirred.
I leaned forward, holding my breath.
Was it a fish, enormous and silent?
A fallen branch turning below?
I searched the water for another glimpse.
And there it was again.
Slowly, almost deliberately,
a shape passed beneath the mirrored trees.
My heart began to beat so loudly
I could hear it above the river.
I wanted to see.
Oh, how badly I wanted to see.
But my feet refused the final step
towards that dark and silent edge.
Then everything stopped.
The branches lay perfectly reflected,
the river wore its beautiful face again,
and I stood trembling on the bank,
afraid of what might rise if I looked closer.
I turned to leave.
Behind me, a single ripple
reached the shore without a sound.
There's more I’d love to share with you.
That strange afternoon beside the river has stayed with me, and I still wonder what moved through those dark waters. Although the experience unsettled me, it hasn't diminished my love for rivers or the beautiful mysteries they hold. In fact, it has made me even more curious about the worlds hidden below their surfaces. I'd love to share another side of that fascination with you.
Perhaps you'd enjoy exploring more of my River Rhythms, discovering how Free Verse Poetry allows me to express the feelings and questions that nature leaves with me, or reading Every Stone Changed the Song, where a very different river experience filled my heart with wonder. That poem reminds me of the beautiful music flowing water can create, especially when it meets the stones along its journey.
Whichever path you choose, I hope you'll discover something that awakens your curiosity, brings you a little closer to nature, or leaves you with a question worth wondering about. And if you find yourself beside a quiet river one day, perhaps you'll look a little more closely at its reflections. Just remember to keep your feet safely on the bank.
Where Would You Like To Go Next?
🌿 Back to Where It All Begins
Come back to my home among the wild and see what else is waiting to be discovered - Home
🌼 Come Get to Know Me
There’s more to me than the poems I write. I’d love to tell you a little about who I am and the things that make me, me - Hello, I’m Khalia
🪶 Discover the Heart Behind My Poetry
Nature makes me wonder, smile, ache, question and feel alive. Come discover how those feelings find their way into my words - Why I Write.