There is a concept in Jewish law which states that a river or
lake in which the water could dry out cannot be used for ritual purity. Since
the river does not always contain the water, it is considered to be a “false
river”. In a deeper sense, this can be a metaphor for our lives. Sometimes we
get inspired by someone or something and we want to use this inspiration as a
catalyst for change but somehow it doesn’t take hold. In such a case, I ask
myself, was it ever real to begin with?...
This concept is what inspired the poem “The False River”.
I know a river
In the mountains
somewhere high
At times it flows
with water
Sometimes it runs dry
It is a false river
I’ve heard some
natives say
Its waters not relied
upon
Like sun which lights
our day
I’ve visited this
river
The one they say’s
misleading
I’ve seen its waters
gushing forth
With no hopes of
receding
I noticed the
intensity
I listened to its
roar
That reality of being
Seemed to be its core
Is it just illusion?
I pondered the
thought
If it’s here this
moment, gone the next
Is it real or naught?
What is the truth
Of a river so fickle?
One day a rush
One day a trickle
I could not imagine
Nor fathom the notion
That one day it could
dry
With complete cease
of motion
Yet one day I found
myself
At the river bank
I was dismayed by the
sight
My heart all but sank
Where was the spirit?
The cascade? The
rush?
Where was the water?
Let alone the rush…
What had just seemed
So grounded, so true
Suddenly made me
question
Everything I knew
If yesterday my
passions
Were fueled by
inspiration
Today I’m not at all
convinced
They’re authentic
aspirations
Then what is real and
what is fake
How can I define?
Is there a gap
between them?
Or only a thin line…
I turned my eyes
heavenward
I pleaded with my G-d
I need to know, I
need to feel!
I need a gentle prod
Please, I begged,
direct me
Show me how it lasts
Point me to the path
of truth
I need to get there
fast
I looked back down
At the river bed
To the meandering
emptiness
And down the path it
led
I gazed into the
sunlight
Dipped behind the
trees
I saw the splendid
sunset
And my soul felt more
at ease
I knew the sun would
rise again
And in my heart and
mind
I knew that if I
searched in depth
The truth is there to
find
