Must a river
stop being
a river
the moment she
meets the sea?
Could she
continue
her path
through ocean’s
lapping waves,
or does she
lose integrity
once he spits
his salty
sea breath
on her face?
The river
does not slow,
she rushes
forward, albatross
caught in a gale,
then leaps
into his claws
as he roars,
chews, digests
her into himself.
Becca Downs is an Indianapolis-based writer who also enjoys running, hiking, chaotically reading seven books at one time, planning road trips around donut shops, and discussing the certain existence of Sasquatch. In 2013, she graduated with a degree in English-Creative Writing from Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis (IUPUI), where she also ran cross country and track. She always has the ingredients for a hot toddy.
