Sherri Lewis is a poet and author of short stories. Here in her second book 'Wash my Soul' the river is symbolic of the constant struggles one must endure to find our true spiritual nature. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania she now resides in the Sierra foothills and spends a lot of time at her second home on the California coast. The magnificent landscapes are inspiring to her creative process. Here is an excerpt in the poem 'Hidden River' How could I find confidence? You smiled and said, "Just find your truthfulness" And then my tears washed my sins into the river of the Shangri-la. As an artist and writer her words create vivid visual images that add to the uniqueness of her poetry.