Sonnet for Sophia

The man beside the river plucks a reed
A reed and then another for a bow
A reed the river had allowed to grow
He knots: for more in future falls the seed
Complete, he takes the reeds, the thing he’s weaved
With outstretched arms he casts it on the tide
Now bow for him, she holds it to her side
And takes it far beyond the rocks she’s cleaved
The mas is not dismayed, for river gives
In gifts of shade where finch and sparrow lives
The man is not dismayed, for river’s cold
Is balm to sooth all cruelties of the sun
She gives in gifts of reeds for him to fold