River
‍by kristiCopez | arukahArt

‍

these days are
unstoppable—

no dams
to slow or redirect
this course—

no bridge to tip
timidly over—

look
down at
this rushing river—

see
where it is going
in such a rush—

no end in sight—

to see where my feet
will land.

these days are unstoppable—

requiring a lifting
of my body
and a giving
in-
to the flow—

fast or not—

when i stop
fighting
this river—

i might find
the place
where it empties out—
into a calm pool—
shallow enough
to wade—

rest and be
refreshed—

a place to
look
back
and see—

it is me—

that is
unstoppable.

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Kristi Copez is a service‑connected U.S. Navy veteran (1978–1981) whose writing explores the quiet intersections of memory, faith, and creative resilience. She is a ceramist, poet, and emerging theologian based in Cleveland, Ohio, where she is forming Arukah Art, a nonprofit arts and jazz ministry rooted in cultivating sacred space centered on creativity, community, and spiritual grounding. Her work seeks to honor the lived experiences of those who navigate life at the margins. Through poetry & essays, she offers her work as an exploration of themes of healing, belonging, and the inner landscapes women veterans carry.