~~~~~the River~~~~~ Poem by Susan Williams
~~~~~the River~~~~~
.
The river deep and dark
~~~flowing through the night
carrying flotsam and jetsam
~~~through the shadowy moonlight
drowning secrets upon secrets in its depths
~~~washing away the bones, washing away the blood
from the sins of mankind along its course
~~~lapping eagerly against the shores of mud
smelling of ebbing fish
~~~smelling of riverbed slime
upstream and downstream pulling everything under
~~~into the most relentless good-bye of all time
the river rippling over its shallows and rolling through its currents
~~~ever flowing ever streaming
ever burbling against the rounded smooth pebbles on its shores
~~~ever its dark lurid song dreaming
carrying memories like burnt offerings in its eddies
~~~leaving forgetfulness in its wake
River Lethe drifting thoughtlessly along
~~~toward the confluence of the Columbia and the Snake.
.
.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~©2017 Susan Williams.
Wow! ! ! ! ! Goodness Susan! ! ! ! ! What An Ever So Deeply Moving And Emotional Painting! ! ! ! ! The Air. The Feel. The Washing Away. The Currents. A Poem With Great Depths And Spirit Within! ! ! ! ! Thank You So Very Much For Sharing This! ! ! ! ! Many Many Heart Felt 10S! ! ! ! ! +++++
Rebecca! ! ! Every time I see your name, I start to grin! ! ! ! You have such BOUNCE and JOY and DELIGHT that it sparkles from every comment you make! Thank you for your heartfewlt support, my friend.
drowning secrets upon secrets in its depth...I sincerely appreciate and admire the fathomless depth of your poetic imagination in its truthful parlance. A precious poem.
You have sketched altogether a different river here. Loved this beautiful poem.5 stars.
Very touching and thought provoking. A river is a silent witness to mankind's activities. To my Poem List.
Rose Marie--I treasure that you put this of your fav list. It is a very treasured tribute to a poem that you want to reread it. Thank you!
The superb imagery embedded in this wonderful write made me at close range with the river. Crystalline images that can take you back to yesteryears and to the present and even future. Very encompassing.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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12/4/2025 9:53:05 PM # 1.0.0
There is just the right hint of Joseph Conrad in the exceptional poem. A river has always made the perfect metaphor for self-discovery. Do we wash away the stains and the sins, or does the river reveal that we are the flotsam? The confluence is that moment of reckoning and self-discovery may be a surprise if not outright shock to some. This one goes on my favourites list! And, of course, a 10!
Thank you so much for mentioning my poem in the same sentence as Joseph Coinrad. WoW! ! ! I enjoy how you look deep into a piece of writing - it makes the time and thought that went into it worth while. I love the word confluence and it tickles me that your eye was drawn to it- thank you for the well-thought-out comment- -made my day, Mj! And thank you for the 10 and a nice spot on your fav list! ! ! !