Running River

Down by the river 

No not that one 

The river near my old oak cabin 

The rush of the water 

The brook that babbles on through all hours of the night 

I try to ask her questions 

But her answers flow too quick 

The river belongs to me 

In a way 

I know Mother Earth is her keeper 

But I’m her owner 

I own the land 

A whole lot of it 

Trees soldiered 

Properties defence 

I own this land 

And when I realized the river belonged to me 

I ran through the shallow water like a child 

Splashing 

Playing 

Delighted 

The stream hugged my body 

But she moved on quick 

And that’s when I realized I couldn’t stop her 

I couldn’t stop the flow 

The water that rushed 

Had somewhere to be 

In the middle of nowhere 

I tried to barrier the rocks 

Break branches 

Pull sticks 

Like a beaver and it’s dam 

I wanted the water to stay put 

I have trouble watching life move on 

When I have not been able to myself 

Having places to go 

New land to mark 

She’s babbling so loud now 

A sudden rush of water 

Runs right through my blockings 

Streams over my stones 

She’s speaking too loud 

Please stop I’m trying to concentrate 

Use modern mechanics to keep you here 

I need to think 

Babble 

Talking 

Spitting 

And speaking 

She wants to be heard 

What 

What is it you want 

Can’t you see I want you here with me 

Forever 

I can’t keep track of the new languages you learn 

And the conversations you keep 

I need you to sit silent sometimes 

I like when you talk me to sleep 

On a humid July’s night 

But listening to you moan on 

Drown out the sound of my steaming kettle 

It’s not right 

I can hear you through closed windows 

Cranked tight 

All the time 

I know you’re extroverted 

But I am not 

I am quite timid 

An introvert 

I need my quiet time 

But you won’t quit 

So I’m stopping you now 

Keeping you still 

I own you, river 

You’re mine by law 

My dam is damning 

Pathetic and impractical 

And then I hear her 

Clear for the first time 

And she tells me 

In wet words 

And watery tones 

That I do not own her 

She is free to run 

I simply have stake in the carved out land she swims through 

I own the muck and the dirt 

But I do not own the water 

I can’t 

She says she’s born to run free 

Cannot belong to anyone 

And I envy her in that moment 

Slap down hard on her surface 

But she is right 

And she is free 

So I go inside 

Crack the wooden windows 

And let her sing me to sleep 

Singing songs of freedom 

Running down the river 

Nowhere to call home 

Except for everywhere

Reviews

[Delmar Cooper]

Thanks for sharing. Your poem is profound in many ways.

[The Things She Noted]

Thank you!!

[Relic]

Great personification in this. Your thoughts sound caring, like a mother would talk to a child that she realizes has grown and is ready to move on.

Great writing. Welcome to WC. :)

[The Things She Noted]

Thank you! I really appreciate your feedback :)

[Robert Robbie Lord Dudl..]

Over sudden stops
Over sudden starts
What a life beyond the wind
Profound and understood
I like your poem by water it's good

[The Things She Noted]

Love it! Thank you :)