You are welcomed to Cathy’s “world”. She has published several poems in the NESTER and this post introduces you to her as a songwriter. She is a singer-songwriter in the Pacific Northwest and has been writing and singing music for 30 years! She is a long-time member of Seattle Song Circle and has made several albums, including TRUST THE RIVER.
Cathy tells me: “Rivers have always felt alive to me. I have gone to rivers for solace and renewal, to talk to them and listen to them. Some years ago a student of mine asked me for advice – I answered him with my best thoughts – and later they became this song.”
Rivers have forever inspired artists to paint them, photograph them and write about them, descriptively and metaphorically. For me, this song/poem is worth reading more than once! Yes, the song/poem is about the search for a meaningful life, but the answer, “trust the river” doesn’t promise a “bowl full of cherries”. Life’s a bit more complicated than that.
Tim
TRUST THE RIVER
CATHY ROSS
You ask me what I learned in life,
I don’t know what to say.
You think because I’m old in years
I’ve somehow found the way.
I’ve learned so very little,
But one thing is for sure:
I know that you can always
Trust the river
You ask me for my best advice
I haven’t much to give.
I know I cannot tell somebody else
How they should live.
But when life keeps you waiting
For all you’re dreaming of,
Remember you can never
Push the river
You ask me to explain it all,
I don’t know where to start.
The only thing that I can say
Is listen to your heart.
And when life rushes forward
And you are swept away,
Remember you cannot
Hold back the river.
(chorus)
Trust the river as it flows
To take you where it goes
Later you will know
It was where you meant to go.
Trust the river as it winds
Down the waterfalls of time
Leaving yesterday behind
Trust the river.
CREDITS:
Writer: Cathy Ross
Photographers: David Proebstel, Joanne Chase, Toni Olson, Lorelie Olson
Graphic Designer:Tim Olson
Editors: Lorelie & Tim Olson
NESTER url: https://notesfromanester.com
To read Cathy’s previous published poem: click here
I’ll keep trusting but right now I don’t know where the river is going as it has many twists and turns and a bit rocky. 😊