by Maggie Harrington, Richmond, VA

 Story prompt: Write your own river story…

A poem submitted on behalf of Maggie Harrington, age 9:

The River Through the Year

Winter snow blankets the ground
An endless sheet of white
All animals in a deep winter sleep
Everything quiet
Ice freezes everything
Yet the river continues to flow
Day through night
Day through night
Day through night

New green buds replace the bare branches
Animals squint in the spring rain
Petals burst and bloom
The ice cracks
Yet the river continues to flow
Day through night
Day through night
Day through night

In an endless stretch of sunshine
Lizards bask in the light
And turtles soak up the warm air,
While deer sulk in the shadows
Yet the river continues to flow
Day through night
Day through night
Day through night

A cool autumn breeze
Blows the leaves up and around
Like dancing ballerinas
Animals gather supplies for their hibernation
Birds perch on the rocks on the surface of the river
Yet the river continues to flow
Day through night
Day through night
Day through night