The Narrows, Stamp FallsMarch 30, 2002
Song of the river wild,
Song of the rapids leaping
Through the chiseled rock-walled chasm
Green with weeping,
A plunging torrent
To the ocean seeping
Song of the sea-green foam
Song of the white froth dancing
Sun-dappled baby wave-tops prancing
In the sunshine, all my dreams
Romancing.
Song of the green rock wall,
A vessel for the river's journey,
Guiding the flow along the channel churning
To the ocean and as it's
Returning.
Song of the tall green trees
Rootbound and stoic in the deep crevasses
Rooted in bedrock holding up the mountain,
Sentinels for every year
that passes
Song of the laughing brook
Below the rapids green, swirling and babbling
Huge salmon leap,
Fall back in shallows dabbling,
Plunge forth to lunge again,
Leaping and scrabbling
Song of the river wild,
You sing my tattered soul a new song,
Bless the silver beauty of this new day,
Make me know the path I'm on
Is not wrong.
Song of the seasoned soul
That knows the underlying message
Of the river:
Flow with me,
Not against me as we journey;
Travel lightly,
Not a taker,
But a giver.
Gorgeous poem, Sherry! And the perfect picture to illustrate it. Is it one of yours? I also love the shot of Lukey and Jasmine at the lake. I really must get over and meet your doggy companions...
ReplyDeleteLynette
Hello Sherry: Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving your lovely comment. I just love the blogging community, so many interesting, talented and wonderful folks that enter you life. Love your four-leggeds playing in the water. Will stop by again. Sea witch
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you for stopping by my site! Yes, I am very excited to be exploring this blogging community - so many awesome people with marvellous gifts, including you. I share your passion for the sea. I live an hour and a half inland, now, as close I can get to my beloved beach, and there isnt a day that goes by that I dont miss the smell and sound of the sea. Do stop by again, and I will be following your site with interest. Sherry
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lynette, Yes, I love all our wonderful doggies, my two and my sister's three, all of which I look after a lot of the time. Dear little souls, they are. My poor old Pup is perhaps living his last summer. Josh calculated last night that he is 91 years old in human years - yikes. No wonder he sleeps all the time and has so much trouble hobbling about. Poor old boy. I cannot imagine him not being here, and yet that day is coming ever closer.
ReplyDeletep.s. Yes, this is one of my photos, almost all of them on the site are. Soon every photo will be mine, just have to find time for scanning:) This is my favorite place in Port Alberni, Stamp Falls, a rushing river that tumbles down steep rocks and through a narrow chasm, where the salmon migrate every fall, an awesome sight. It is where Pup and I go when we miss our wild beaches and trails too much.
ReplyDeleteReally beautiful; reminds me of Alaska!! Love your pics, too~
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ellie, and thanks for "following". Cool:)I am enjoying your colorful site. Keep writing!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog Sherry it is awesome, and song of the river is breathtakingly beautiful...love all the imagery...a river always represents such peace, exploration, and freedom.
ReplyDeleteSherry this poem is beautiful and I love the imagery you manage. I am also doubly impressed by your photos. You are very talented and look forward visiting again. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeletevivid and lovely songs...
ReplyDeletevery well done.
Thank you, gentle readers. Your comments make me happy!
ReplyDeleteLovely piece, you can hear the river and the water in this, hear the salmon leap.....which I will hear soon...I will be on the Island next month....go every year....blessings..bkm
ReplyDeleteYour words leave me with a wonderful image of a part of Canada, that I hope one day to visit. I sensed that I was already there!
ReplyDeleteSherry,what a beautiful poem... It gives me such a feeling of peacefulness when I read it. I love the west coast of Canada (BC) , by the way, have seen some beautiful rivers and lakes there. Nice blog.
ReplyDeleteThank all of you so much. I am enjoying visiting all of your wonderful sites as well. I am THRILLED to have this chance to connect with other poets:)Thank you to Poets United!
ReplyDeletewow - that was fantastic
ReplyDelete…travel lightly… smooth verses that flow like water…
my watersong is up as well
Wonderful!
ReplyDelete"Song of the river wild,
You sing my tattered soul a new song,
Bless the silver beauty of this new day,
Make me know the path I'm on
Is not wrong.
Song of the seasoned soul
That knows the underlying message
Of the river:
Flow with me,
Not against me as we journey;"
Beauty and wisdom rolled into one!
Just Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteSherry beautiful poem! I feel the peace in it; I love your blog and the dogs!
ReplyDeletePamela
beautiful photography, beautiful poetry. two passions that go great hand in hand. keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of a 'seasoned soul'. I wish I were one!
ReplyDeleteSherry Blue Sky,
ReplyDeleteWhat a delight, to read your words again and to have a sense of being transported to that beautiful place,The Narrows, Stamp Falls.
Best wishes,
Eileen
Amazing words, it is as if i am listening to many beautiful songs:3
ReplyDeleteA lovely poem, Sherry.
ReplyDelete'Song of the tall green trees
Rootbound and stoic in the deep crevasses
Rooted in bedrock holding up the mountain,
Sentinels for every year
that passes'
Nice...:-)
I read it again; I love the imagery and how the song is shared by all in the journey of life!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Sherry! Love the ending...so true....
ReplyDeleteand this line...
Song of the sea-green foam
Song of the white froth dancing
Sun-dappled baby wave-tops prancing
In the sunshine, all my dreams
Romancing.
love love love!
I love the songs you sing, the images you wring from words of simple grace, that make this place come alive so strongly, I can almost smell it. Thank you,
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
I really liked the rhythm and flow of this piece, so appropriate to the rhythm and flow of the river. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteVisiting from Poets United. So glad I did. What a beautiful poem. I too hope I follow the river's path.
ReplyDeleteThis could be a native American prayer. it is beautiful, Sherry!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the river wild!
ReplyDeletesherry, i love the green in this poem, just love it.
ReplyDeleteSherry,
ReplyDeleteSadly the arrogance of man, as a taker, rather than a giver, is now having severe consequences. Our disrespect for nature and the very earth itself, has placed the world at risk.
Your words illustrate the beauty, of all that we must preserve.
Best wishes, Eileen
Beautiful - us poets have to seek beauty. Keep sharing.
ReplyDeletepositive songs are always welcome to ears.
ReplyDeletekeep singing.
lovely...nature has such a beautiful song if we still long enough to hear it...and it is echoed within us as well
ReplyDeleteVery wild, the river, but beautiful, and often giving, and your last lines say we can learn from that. The photograph is absolutely gorgeous also, Sherry.
ReplyDeleteLovely poem. If we all travel lightly, we will hear that wild song. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThis is really nice, has the feel of a classic, and there's something a bit Whitmanesque too.
ReplyDelete