Sunday, May 6, 2012

Life Bends

R.A.D. Stainforth



Life Bends
©2012 Susan Noyes Anderson


A river flows around the bend;
no man can see what lies ahead.
What mysteries does this portend
to fill my heart with hope or dread?


The water shimmers calm and clear,
but I have traveled far and wide.
I am no stranger there or here;
no dreamer, drifting toward the tide.


My eyes have seen the changing stream;
my ears have heard the shocking sound...
the end to mild meandering.
I know the roil, the wave, the pound.


I miss the callow calm of youth,
the untried innocence, the ease.
Yet lifeblood must rush on to truth,
and salty tears spill into seas.


Tranquility, ferocity, 
there is no reciprocity.
The rhythm comes; the rhythm goes.
The river ebbs; the river flows.



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35 comments:

Anonymous said...

i like the alliteration callow climb of youth

the river

Mimi Foxmorton said...

You definitely nailed the bending of life.......

Susan Lindquist said...

Acknowleding the bends in life yet remaining strong and enthusiastic to move on through them ...

Anonymous said...

It would be nice to lye on the inner tube of youth well floating down a lazy river. You hit a point well, and brilliantly written
http://leah-jamielynn.typepad.com/blog/

Christine said...

Tranquility, ferocity,
there is no reciprocity.
The rhythm comes; the rhythm goes.
The river ebbs; the river flows. Perfect ending to how life bends many ways.

Other Mary said...

Oh, very good. I especially like the last two stanzas.

Gerry Snape said...

"I miss the callow calm of youth,
the untried innocence, the ease.
Yet lifeblood must rush on to truth,
and salty tears spill into seas."
this one of those set of lines that I would have liked to have written myself! Really moving ..and such great rhythm in this. Thankyou!

Brian Miller said...

enchanting rhythm in your river there sue...you never know what comes around the bend and over time we learn not to fight the flow...the river will take us where we need to go...

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

Came by earlier today to catch up with you dear Sue but ole blogger would not let me leave u a comment so I am trying again.
Through this bending of life I have been so fortunate to have your writing to enjoy.
Love ya
Maggie

Anonymous said...

So much wonderful truth...and so artfully crafted. Hats off to you.Vb

Grandma Honey said...

Life is such a mystery isn't it? Chapters not written yet. You said it well.

yaya said...

The ebb and flow of the river of life is one thing..I tend to get caught on those darn snags and sandbars! Love the poem Sue!

Pondside said...

I only have to look at my mother to know that I can trust that the bends and turns will take me to where I need to be. It's not always easy and life is not always kind, but I know that I will be given the strength to stay the course.
This was so beautifully written, and touched a chord in me.

Unknown said...

I've recently heard some of the graduation seniors in my ward lamenting how hard life is and I wonder, if they can even fathom.
While their life is certainly flowing...what I wouldn't give to only be facing their turbulent waters. They seem to become more treacherous as the years go by.

Unknown said...

that was an excellent poem! kudos, Sue!

Unknown said...

This poem is awash with a tidal rhythm that ebbs and flows,in and out of shimmers and tranquility. I love the movement. Thank you for sharing, Sue. =D

VK said...

A river is so calming and easy to be mesmerized by. Maybe we should just relax a little about watching life go by too.

21 Wits said...

You are becoming one of my favorite poets! :) Yep, I've been following your posts and a few others doing the Mag posts and just had to give it a try too! Pretty calm photo this week! Karen
Oh and your song goes well with this too!

rel said...

Beautifully expressed sue!
rel

Daydreamer said...

Lovely. Life is all like that isn't it. Sometimes calm, sometimes raging and we learn to go with it. Lovely piece Sue.

Unknown said...

I love the flow of this poem! Wonderfu!

Anonymous said...

Lovely close here especially. Very thoughtful and thought- provoking. K

Leovi said...

I am very pleased this excellent poem about life, but good memories of that inexperienced youth.

Unknown said...

you are such a gifted writer. Lovely poem.

The Bug said...

Lovely poem - I especially like the last stanza.

(Oh, & thanks for liking mine!)

Tess Kincaid said...

Oh this is really beautiful...very nice...

kaykuala said...

I miss the callow calm of youth,
the untried innocence, the ease.
Yet lifeblood must rush on to truth,
and salty tears spill into seas.

How very true,Sue! The innocence of youth often brings tears at some wrong turns. Great write!

Hank

Anonymous said...

the cadence here echoes that of
a river - well done.

Lyn said...

Beautiful..."Lifeblood must rush on to truth"...very rich!

De Jackson said...

Beautiful. This, in particular:
"The rhythm comes; the rhythm goes.
The river ebbs; the river flows."
The words flow like water. Just perfect.

anitamombanita said...

beautifully stated. Rivers are such a great metaphor for life's twists and turns.

Tarang Sinha said...

This is really nice!:)

Terra said...

oh so beautiful and true...oh so true

Kat Mortensen said...

Definitely one of the best of yours that I have read (so far). It reads like a classic-- Wordsworth perhaps ( well, that would be appropriate wouldn't it?
Your images are lovely and the way you have woven is terrific. I'm a big fan of alliteration as long as it doesn't beat you over the head with it; you have accomplished this. A real triumph!

Anonymous said...

This is so beautifully written, Sue. A vivid expression of life's flow.
-Judee from write tuit (WP)