RIVER URKE, American Poet and Writer
River Urke lives in Minnesota with her daughter, Willow, and their cat Brownie, dog Odie, and two rats. She lives and loves hugely despite the challenges of MS.
River is a consultant on Native American culture. Her poems have been published widely. She blogs her poetry at Waabin Ozhibiiwin~ Dawn Writer. You’ll find her articles at Rivers Ruminations and her YouTube Channel at RiverMaria. Her work can also be found on MS MuSings, A Monthly Online Magazine by and for those with Multiple Sclerosis.
River edits The River Paper to which I am a contributing writer effective September 9, 2011. The River Paper is published each Friday.
We’re pleased to introduce River Urke and her work to our readers here … Her photograph and poems are copyrighted and posted on Into the Bardo with permission. J.D.
If you are viewing this on the homepage, you may have to click on the post title to get the poem to layout properly. Thank you!
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Envy
by
River Urke
·
I sit outside the day hospital after my infusion
Feeling shitty
Waiting for my taxi to come
·
I am watching all the people walk by
Focusing on their lower half
Not noticing their faces
·
I begin to feel jealous
Their legs keep pace with each other
Their stride is straight and true
·
I look down at my legs
Imagining them amongst the crowd
In the stream headed west
·
No drunken gait
No dropping foot
·
I mingle in their movement
With a sway to my step
My pace is one with theirs
·
A noise wakes me
The taxi approaches to take me home
I pick up my cane
·
I start to head towards the van
I begin to feel eyes upon me
Looking me up and down
·
I freeze at their thoughts of me
Faces revealing their pity
‘A young woman with a cane’
·
My pride pushes forward
Determined not to give in
·
I raise my head high
Stand myself tall
Again I start towards the van
·
Moving forward in my reality.
©River Urke 3/09
The Crippling Effect by River Urke:
The BeZine 