I.
When I am thirsty
I travel to drink in
This river of words –
Sun is ink, stones are parchment
I grow fins and kelp
Writing fishy tales
I travel to drink in
This river of words –
Sun is ink, stones are parchment
I grow fins and kelp
Writing fishy tales
II.
When I am in despair
I jog down to the river
Tasting sadness, chewing its edges
Swallowing bone and liver,
I wash it down with the blessings of trees
And leave, on river’s belly,
Single red feather
I jog down to the river
Tasting sadness, chewing its edges
Swallowing bone and liver,
I wash it down with the blessings of trees
And leave, on river’s belly,
Single red feather
III.
When my tongue is dry
With crackers and oats
I go to the river to wash
Wildflowers are soap
Mushroom and moss are towels
Grit falls away, I am pink with lilies
With crackers and oats
I go to the river to wash
Wildflowers are soap
Mushroom and moss are towels
Grit falls away, I am pink with lilies
Posted for D'verse poets Pub - OpenLinkNight - Join us when the pub opens at 3pm EST. Thanks for your comments.
Grow from a little sprout as you cure your drought
ReplyDeleteI love the different facet of the river... the river is always there for you, and change for you... Especially love the drinking of words in the first coda.
ReplyDeleteI love that the river is the source of solace and peace for you. Easy flow to your words!
ReplyDeleteA lovely river portrait, Grace. I really love the lines:
ReplyDelete'Sun is ink, stones are parchment
I grow fins and kelp
Writing fishy tales'.
Tasting sadness, chewing its edges... wonderful descriptions.
ReplyDeleteThose seem like good reasons to go to the river: to quench one's thirst, recover hope and become clean. I like the idea of "writing fishy tales".
ReplyDeleteOh such lovely imagery here Grace!❤️Especially love; "Tasting sadness, chewing its edges. Swallowing bone and liver, I wash it down with the blessings of trees and leave, on river’s belly, single red feather." Beautifully executed.❤️
ReplyDeleteThere's true beauty, your words, Grace, which offers hope and healing, in these challenging times. In giving us, grace, when we need it, the most.
ReplyDeleteOh Grace! You have made my day. Love every one of these :) ...and I am indeed pink with lilies :) Have a LOVELY weekend, my friend.
ReplyDeleteYour codas are cool, your poetics keen, your wordsmithing finely honed. If only more of us sought /the blessing of trees/, as you sport your /red feather/in your French braid, and show off your tight midriff /pink with lilies/.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful connection with the river through these words, I especially love 'I travel to drink in
ReplyDeleteThis river of words – Sun is ink, stones are parchment'
To be 'pink with lilies' is about all anyone needs.
ReplyDeleteI love every single line of this - and the nurturing, mutually loving relationship with the river.
ReplyDeleteI loved the last line of the first stanza - Writing fishy tales - it made me smile.
ReplyDeleteThanks Grace - Matthew
So many wonderful lines here, I love how sun is ink. The river can shift to your every need, but is continually the source of inspiration and nourishment.
ReplyDeleteThe most surrealist poem I've ever read in a long while.
ReplyDeleteGrace these lines blow my mind:
When I am thirsty
I travel to drink in
This river of words –
Sun is ink, stones are parchment
I grow fins and kelp
Writing fishy tales
Your put together in threads the most beautiful imagery and I smiled while reading this. Excellent. :)
Loved reading about all things the river is to you Grace. Quenching thirst, inspiring, feeding and nurturing. Especially loved - "Tasting sadness, chewing its edges."
ReplyDeleteThose who are thirsty, those who despair - seek solace from this river. Truly lovely.
ReplyDeleteYour imagery is so breathtaking in this poem, Grace. Really beautiful.
ReplyDeletethe river for poets. :)
ReplyDelete'I go to the river to wash
Wildflowers are soap'
Wonderful imagery drift. Marvelous flow of imagination.
ReplyDeleteLove how each of the problems you lost its cured by a visit to the river
ReplyDelete"Pink with lilies" ... soon, friend Grace, soon ... smiles ... Love, cat.
ReplyDeleteso beautiful Grace !
ReplyDeleteWildflowers are soap
ReplyDeleteMushroom and moss are towels
Grit falls away, I am pink with lilies
geeeez. this is beyond beautiful! <3
A lovely ode to the river. :)
ReplyDeleteAh! Like breathing deeply.
ReplyDeleteWow, Grace, this was so serene in its reading. I felt like I was taken into the poem.
ReplyDeleteThe ending is gorgeous:
ReplyDelete"Wildflowers are soap
Mushroom and moss are towels
Grit falls away, I am pink with lilies"
I love how you've interplayed the textures and emotions-- this is worth several readings!~peace, Jason
ReplyDeleteI go to the river to wash
ReplyDeleteWildflowers are soap
Mushroom and moss are towels
Grit falls away, I am pink with lilies
How the river is seen as helpful and supported by the ferns and flowers around it in its bidding. Truly said Grace!
Hank
Beautiful lines! I especially like this "Sun is ink, stones are parchment"
ReplyDeleteThat single red feather is a prayer of pure power.
ReplyDeletefun variety!
ReplyDeleteMay I play for a second?
I chose the lines I liked from each verse and combined them.
I got rid of poem-correctness of capitalizing each line.
And added in punctuation to help the read. And got this:
When I am thirsty
I travel to drink in
this river of words.
Swallowing bone and liver,
I wash it down with the blessings of trees.
Mushroom and moss are towels.
Grit falls away, I am pink with lilies!
Nice one Sabio !
DeleteOh! I have missed that river and your poems Grace. Hope you are well. I have been away from Dverse far too long.
ReplyDeleteGood to read you again Abhra!
DeleteThis brings to mind the W.H. Auden quote: "Thousands have lived without love, not one without water."
ReplyDeleteI love the second stanza :))
ReplyDeleteI really like this. Especially II and your closing on III.
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of the poems and of the images they conjure.
ReplyDeleteHappy week to you. :-)
~Imelda
I love this, Grace, such vivid, natural imagery... Thank you!
ReplyDeleteInteresting and very creative.
ReplyDelete