March 28, 2014

  • Watching the River

    Jubilant he rises from the water
    Wet with river muck clinging to legs
    A look of joy in shining eyes
    Glancing back at his past life
    Left behind washed away
    River current swift
    Shivering cold
    Baptism
    Shaking
    Free

    This is a Reverse Etheree - a poem consisting of 10 lines where the first line has 10 syllables and each successive line has one less until the last line of one syllable. This poem can be interpreted in several ways. I was struck with the idea for this one while traveling along the Ohio River on vacation. The water seemed high but that was probably due to the melting snow. The idea of getting in the water was not a pleasant thought. It was murky and very cold! Then at church we sang an old hymn "Down in the River to Pray" And last but not least I saw a dog climbing out of the river. He was wet and dirty and very happy in the way only dogs can be. So whether you want to read this and see a saved soul or a wet dog is up to you...

Comments (28)

  • enjoyed it ~ thought of a dog and a soul both ~ :)

    • The human capacity for seeing multiple perspectives is integral to our ability to empathize. Glad you enjoyed this one!

  • My mom told me once as a child that a log I saw in the local river was a boy who played in the water. I believed her for a long time.

    Clever poem.

  • I think of both too. Though I thought of a young person first, and later (after you mentioned it) a dog. Thinking of the river makes me cold. Glad I don't have to get in our pond today!

  • Enjoyed it.....Whose to say, lost soul saved, dog all wet? Could it be that in a way, the dog's soul was also released to be free? We just never know!!

    It is a very good poem....From a heavy laden soul of sin, to a soul set free from all sin...

  • I didn't see a dog until you said it. Good poem.

    • We take it from our own experiences and then the nimble mind can see the other perspective. This was sort of a word version of the picture of a lamp or two people kissing...

  • Beautiful, meaningful poem. Thanks.

  • What a fun style of poem!
    What a powerfully worded poem! Perfect pairing of style and topic! We can feel and see his letting of all that was weighing him down and is now free and smiling as he walks back to life.
    :-)
    HUGS!!!
    PS...I love that song! :-)

  • that is interesting

    I never saw a dog that needed to be saved. LOL

  • I felt good that day going to see the x rays of my feet.

  • Wet dog, for me. I love dogs so. Really nice poem.

  • Most of the way through this poem, I saw the poor people caught in and search/and/rescuing after that horrible mudslide in Washington State. A beautiful poem, Val, with many meanings.

    • That is the power of poetry - we each interpret the poem through the filter of our own life experiences. I'm pleased that the poem could evoke those images for you. It has been a deadly spring for many...

  • A poem with a choice.

  • rinsed by the baptism in full water: this is what this poem makes me think,Val.
    Does a book of systematic( classification) or taxonomy of poems exst ?
    Love
    Michel

    • There are websites that have the many types of poems listed. - Just Google "poetry forms". I'm tickled pink that you can see images of Baptism in these words!

  • I saw "baptism" in the poem, but when you mentioned "dog," I could see that as well. Another fun poem to try out. :-)

    • That is the wonder of poems - we can write but everyone interprets from their own experience. I believe that is why so many poets refuse to give a frame of reference - to preserve the individual interpretation.

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