In the maze of willow wands
cached for the curious to discover
wooden gems, in deep green cover

Careful hands of the river sands
caressed each bit, over and over
small toys of Time, the River's lover

Hard cores of buckwheat, sagebrush,
acacia trimmed by weather and water
of each thin limb, of all loose matter
to reveal the innermost burl, refined
by current's eddy, by the swirl of time
swept among beds of reed and rush

Gnarled roots of cliff-weary cover
find their way to the roiling river
to spin and splash amongst the froth
loosening bark, humus, moss
cleansed of life, finally tossed
hidden well, but never lost

Treasures of Time, the River's lover
cached for the curious to discover
in the maze of willow wands