"Life is a mountain stream," born in snow-melt, molded by rocky crags, exuberant in narrow ravines, reflective in meadow ponds, flowing through calm lakes, steady rivers, and twisting deltas into the bay at its journey's end. These poems are chosen to reflect the progressive passage of life. These images and observations inform and broaden life's experiences. Gilbert A. Franke and his wife, Beth, live in Bellville, Texas. They enjoy traveling, camping, hiking, sailing, and reading. Gil grew up in Uvalde, Texas, graduated from Texas Lutheran University and Concordia Seminary. He served three Texas congregations in thirty-seven years, before retiring from parish ministry in 2009 to spend time writing poetry and devotional material. A member of The Society of American Poets, Gil has had many poems published in its quarterly journal, The Poet's Pen.