Some people talk about
a river of news.

They don't say much
about what kind of river
it is.

Perhaps a lazy river
flowing softly
on a hot day?

Or a river surging
through the rapids,
strewn with rocks
and waterfalls?

Or the steady
insistent river,
rarely angry,
always strong,
an irresistible force?

Or the river
swollen by rains
and melting snow,
coursing rapidly,
flowing over its banks?

Or the polluted river
floating with discarded objects
and invisible, toxic chemicals?

Perhaps all these rivers
flow into our daily
river of news,
whether we like it
or not.