Three Forks of Cheat When I listen to the old-time fiddle tune Three Forks of Cheat, I picture the namesake river. The notes rise and fall quickly— twinning an important trait of the water. Fingers move on a fiddleneck the same way the river dances— pulled into the future at all the right moments. On its banks, I’ve had blessed moments. The Shavers Fork is my Past Fork of the Cheat— where my mind goes to remember my fondest mountain dances. When moon and fire reflected off the surface of the river, and downstream a black bear crossed the water. We watched it move until its own blackness met the night quickly. Rivulets and brooks tumble off the mountains quickly, and gather together in the pools for still moments. Trout must also pray upwards, eyes always on surface of the water, hidden in the shadowy Black Fork of the Cheat. They are content to keep against the current, watching upriver. Swimming up rapids and falls, trout master their own dances. Joyfully, I also know about the whitewater dances. When my canoe must allemande and weave and do-si-do and circle ‘round quickly through the Dry Fork canyon of the river. Summer sun and welcoming souls connect to raise the standard of the moments, and all-together makes the happiness we always seek on the Present Fork of Cheat— which we wear on us, dripping down our faces, like a great and holy water. To examine life is to study water, and viewed from a swimming hole, all the living dances— like the Glady Fork of the Cheat. Instead of getting to the end of its tune quickly, it flows forth slowly in splendid moments— until it can grow into a river. I cannot know my Future Fork of the river, I only hope it can be had on this water. On Earth we are given few moments and I want to spend it in and where rainfall dances, because it will all be over heartbreakingly quickly. Gladly, I’d spend what I have left on the Laurel Fork of the Cheat Past, present, and future; flowing simultaneously in the Cheat, that mighty river Go to it quickly, see your reflection in the water. See how your essence dances, and steal away these moments.