The River

what greater strife

than the one within

what greater wound

than the one within

 

beginnings end with

the death of birth

 

when the spirit falls down hard

on unforeseeable circumstance or

even on tufts of tender grass

mountains of aching agony

rise with unfathomed despair

forming on lands of gentle touch

silently a river assumes flow

from crevices whence it grows ceaselessly

wheeled on angst of all sorts

gloominess of some

 

softly tracing new contours

progressing where it finds path

changing course where seems fit

but mindlessly still it surges on unaware

even upon attaining highest tip of the land

wildly splashing whilst madly gushing

where once the river was confined

unchanneled now it travels

forth from feebleness unfelt afore

to a loss unknown afore

 

just as waterfalls

sail ragingly from one land

crashing to tranquillity on another

the river amalgamates all that it once

engulfed beyond recognition

someone asked “whose water is lost

if once they were all but one”

“who knows and who will

who cares and who can

ultimately all is loss, all is gain” someone said

 

endings begin with

the birth of death

 

what greater love

than the one within

what greater calm

than the one within

Author's Note

Hint:
highest tip of land : your middle finger

Unsure myself, whether the 'river' signifies 'life' or 'blood' or even whether it can have any specific meaning or not; either way take away whatever comes to you.
Hope it turns out to be a soothing read :)

Reviews

[Confuser]

Phenomenal writing Stonz: It is as if you've lived 100 lifetimes! Beginnings end with the death of a birth; the whole line is ominous, somber - Beginnings: Loss, confusion, depression, very sad; and it is the same to me for Birth: loss, but even deeper for initially we exspect so much from life. I thought a heartbreak/broken spirit or like you say so well: spirit falls DOWN HARD on unforseeable circumstances..and you go on to despair..silently the river..I saw strife, wounds, pain lost and out of control like the river...softly tracing new countours-silent; the changes that happen to us all; like in a cage rolling away; no hope; a ride we have no control over...changing course..like we are pulled, dragged through this raging -just going through the motions..now it travels forth from feebleness; sad, like death, nothing to live for; and wow then the metaphors of the waterfall; ultimately all is loss all is gain; and we learn through the pain; Mindless searches...highest tip of land, huum.things that use to matter; no longer do. You are very talented. Hope I'm not boring you. Thank you. Dale

[Stonz P.]

Technically speaking, all our souls have lived 100 lifetimes ;)

And please, me bored reading a review from you? That'll be the day I'd be drowned in my own blinding arrogance, Ma'am. Your reviews are so helpful; and provide newer interpretations. I do not have words to thank you for reading my works with the enthusiasm you possess. My only regret is that I am not able to respond back with the same approach as yours; I wish I could.
Thank you so much once again, Ma'am :)

[Confuser]

Stonz: Don't ever worry about my work; I don't possess and never will possess your talent, but you do help with suggestions and errors...that's wonderful to me!

[catwoman]

wow..this was really amazing..the words used were really good..i loved it :)

[Stonz P.]

I am glad you like it.. Thank you, Miss Kyle :)

[catwoman]

hehe :D your welcome :D

[nazia]

The images actually made me tongue tied. it is beyond my capacity to write about the effect this piece of yours had on me. Everything is simply perfect, the words, the images, the message, the structure, the execution. Simply Wow.

[Stonz P.]

I am glad the piece spoke to you :)
Thank you so much for your kind review :)

[Roshan Nair]

This piece has very structured piece of imagery which you have created. I like the way you've hinted at the journey of life and irrespective of its highs and lows..comes a full circle, becoming whole. I really liked the river metaphor used.
Great work!

[Stonz P.]

Actually, Buddha compared life to a river... Hence the title but when I wrote this piece, I had a lot of mixed feelings pertaining to its meaning. Thank you for your kind review Roshan :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

"beginnings end with the death of birth" what a profound line.

the greatest calm is the one within...tranquility gets shattered all too often, the boat gets rocked, but we are the only ones who can calm the seas...it comes from inside of us.

there are rough seas in this poem but also a hope for tranquility that is just within reach.

[Stonz P.]

Couldn't agree more, Sir.
Thank you so much for the review :)

[Ishita Dixit]

It was indeed a soothing read!
And its a beautiful poem.
I loved the imagery.
Nicely done! :)

[Stonz P.]

Thank you so much for the kind review; glad you like it.

[Ishita Dixit]

You're welcome!

[Mayank]

I think in this context I could relate river to the life, the beginning, the end and everything in between. It talk about the path we find and the movement of our in various phases. The calmness of water within and the wrath of water is known to everyone. It left me with various images of human behavior in the form of water.

[Stonz P.]

There are many interpretations.... Although what I started to write about was the flow of blood once someone bruises themself... All the other meanings came along out of the blue.. Thank you for reading :)

[Sami Khalil]

"tranquillity on another
the river amalgamates all that it once
engulfed beyond recognition"

I enjoyed this poem and the journey of your river. Bravo.............................

[Stonz P.]

I am glad you liked it,Sami :) Thanks a lot

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome...:).......

[Coyote Poetry]

Very good use of words. I like the many strong statements in the poem.
"ultimately all is loss, all is gain” someone said"
The above quote is my favorite. I enjoyed the complete poem. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry. I like the use of nature to make your point.
Coyote

[Stonz P.]

Thank you so much, Sir.
I am thrilled to see your gracious review. It means a lot to me :)

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome and it my pleasure to read your words.