CXXXVIII: The aimless river moving, moving on

In response to one who said that rivers are surprised by their own path

But rivers know exactly where they go.

Not first, perhaps, but when, indeed was that?

When first their mountains first began to grow?

Say, that’s not river. Not when it was flat.

As soon as there were troughs to follow down

it’s then the river took upon its name.

Man makes, by rivers and by lakes, his town,

because these are predictable and tame.

For that’s wha…