R.A.D. Stainforth
Life Bends
A river flows around the bend;
©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.
Tranquility, ferocity,
there is no reciprocity.
The rhythm comes; the rhythm goes.
The river ebbs; the river flows.
for more mags, click below
for more mags, click below
i like the alliteration callow climb of youth
ReplyDeletethe river
You definitely nailed the bending of life.......
ReplyDeleteAcknowleding the bends in life yet remaining strong and enthusiastic to move on through them ...
ReplyDeleteIt 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
ReplyDeletehttp://leah-jamielynn.typepad.com/blog/
Tranquility, ferocity,
ReplyDeletethere is no reciprocity.
The rhythm comes; the rhythm goes.
The river ebbs; the river flows. Perfect ending to how life bends many ways.
Oh, very good. I especially like the last two stanzas.
ReplyDelete"I miss the callow calm of youth,
ReplyDeletethe 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!
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...
ReplyDeleteCame 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.
ReplyDeleteThrough this bending of life I have been so fortunate to have your writing to enjoy.
Love ya
Maggie
So much wonderful truth...and so artfully crafted. Hats off to you.Vb
ReplyDeleteLife is such a mystery isn't it? Chapters not written yet. You said it well.
ReplyDeleteThe 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!
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteThis was so beautifully written, and touched a chord in me.
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.
ReplyDeleteWhile 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.
that was an excellent poem! kudos, Sue!
ReplyDeleteThis 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
ReplyDeleteA river is so calming and easy to be mesmerized by. Maybe we should just relax a little about watching life go by too.
ReplyDeleteYou 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
ReplyDeleteOh and your song goes well with this too!
Beautifully expressed sue!
ReplyDeleterel
Lovely. Life is all like that isn't it. Sometimes calm, sometimes raging and we learn to go with it. Lovely piece Sue.
ReplyDeleteI love the flow of this poem! Wonderfu!
ReplyDeleteLovely close here especially. Very thoughtful and thought- provoking. K
ReplyDeleteI am very pleased this excellent poem about life, but good memories of that inexperienced youth.
ReplyDeleteyou are such a gifted writer. Lovely poem.
ReplyDeleteLovely poem - I especially like the last stanza.
ReplyDelete(Oh, & thanks for liking mine!)
Oh this is really beautiful...very nice...
ReplyDeleteI miss the callow calm of youth,
ReplyDeletethe 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
the cadence here echoes that of
ReplyDeletea river - well done.
Beautiful..."Lifeblood must rush on to truth"...very rich!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. This, in particular:
ReplyDelete"The rhythm comes; the rhythm goes.
The river ebbs; the river flows."
The words flow like water. Just perfect.
beautifully stated. Rivers are such a great metaphor for life's twists and turns.
ReplyDeleteThis is really nice!:)
ReplyDeleteoh so beautiful and true...oh so true
ReplyDeleteDefinitely 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?
ReplyDeleteYour 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!
This is so beautifully written, Sue. A vivid expression of life's flow.
ReplyDelete-Judee from write tuit (WP)