River
“He was taught by the river. Incessantly, he learned from it.”
-Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha
speak to the river
and it will listen
I shed stories like old skin
shaking free of weighted body
forgotten details remembered
in imagined negatives developing below the surface
familiar faces float downstream
prepare themselves to be lost
becoming rediscovered in strangers’ hands
open to receive what they never knew
I let go by the river
silent, patient for upstream widsom
22 thoughts on "River"
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There is something mystical in your poem.
I love “speak to the river
and it will listen.”
Thank you, Virginia! I felt something shift today. I appreciate that you felt this.
What a stunning beginning to a poem:
“speak to the river
and it will listen”
Love the imagery and the progression of this poem.
Your imagery in this poem is exceptional. I love how you speak to the river.
Thank you, John! Yes, the river is a special place for me. Thanks for reading and sharing such a kind response to my poem.
Thank you, Karen! I was playing with the opening for a bit. I had the word “and”, deleted it, and then decided to keep it. I’m still not 100% sure which one I prefer.
Thank you so much for reading!
beautifully brings to mind Jung’s collective unconscious
Thank you, Gaby! Now want to go re-read Jung!
This is beautiful! I like the minimalism, the wisdom flowing from within. The Hesse epigraph is really fitting. Well done!
Thank you, Linda!! (I figured out how to turn off the awful AI predictable text that cane with my phone’s latest update! — this will make sense when you see my response to your poem!). I am so glad you enjoyed this one. Hesse certainly helped my words flow today. 💜
Holy, holy holy.
Amen.
Couplets like sluice boxes full of sand.
And
*glint*
LOVE THIS ONE.
Thank you, Coleman!! What kind words about my poem. Always appreciate your generosity. Thanks for reading.
Love the invitation at the beginning; “speak to the river
and it will listen” and how each couplet is a nugget of lush imagery.
And this deserves a Shewx3: “familiar faces float downstream
prepare themselves to be lost/becoming rediscovered in strangers’ hands/open to receive what they never knew”
Thank you, Pam! I am thrilled that you like this one. And a “shew” x’s 3 is such an honor. 💜
Lovely! I need to revisit Hesse. Thanks for your delicious poem.
Awesome! Thanks, Sylvia! Enjoy Hesse. 💜
Brilliant! Hesse quote frames poem perfectly as Siddhartha gains first insight by the river. Listen, observe, reflect. “I shed stories like old skin / shaking free of weighted body.” I learnmuch from studying your poems. Thank you, H. A.
Many thanks, l.! Honored that you find my poems worth studying.
I love reading a poem that feels like a meditation. This one is fluid, rich, and layered. I will be reading again!
Thanks, Jeremy! I appreciate your kind feedback. Thank you for reading…and for stopping by again!
“Imagined negatives developed below the surface” -LOVE.
Thank you, Missy! I imagined photos literally developing below the surface…if they could. Thanks for reading.