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Deep as the River
by David GarnerWe all have a river to cross
and a cross to bear
and a bear to fight
and a fight to win
and to win the war
we war the scars
and the scars are deep
Deep as the River
(and the River is deep)
Deep as the River we cross
We all have a spirit to mind
and to mind the spirit is something we find
we find it in the peace
and we piece it all together
together for the land
the land and the River
Deep as the River
(and the River is deep)
Deep as the River we cross
Well, the wind came south
and south it was
was it something in the air?
no the air was clean
clean as a whistle
and the whistle from the train
we train our ears to hear the bang
the bang of the drums
and the drums in our ears
our ears hear a ring
see a ring of smoke
smoke from the altar
and we alter our thoughts
thoughts that they're coming
they're coming for the gold
the gold of the land
it landed in the River
Deep as the River
(and the River is deep)
Deep as the River we cross
We all have a river to cross
and a cross to bear
and a bear to fight
and a fight to win
and to win the war
we war the scars
and the scars are deep
12/03/2007 Posted on 12/03/2007
Copyright © 2024 David Garner
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Kathleen Wilson on 12/03/07 at 11:07 PM A poem deeper than any river, so beautiful in its formation and wordplay, as well as meaning that sinks deeper and deeper, and the loosening of word transformations, slip and slide, to fathom and find. I love the repetition, I love the emphasis, "and the River is deep". Most people would not realize this needs saying. But a river can be shallow. This, essential one, is deep! Just shivering with meaning. I read this aloud in the house, to hear the echoes. |
| Posted by Mary Frances Spencer on 12/04/07 at 07:05 AM This could be a gospel hymn! MFS |
| Posted by Alison McKenzie on 12/05/07 at 03:45 PM This walks a tight line between profound and "I-don't-know-why-she-swallowed-a-fly". It brings out a certain genious within the predictability of the form that just shimmers in brilliance. |
| Posted by Elizabeth Jill on 12/05/07 at 07:21 PM Amazing how your wordplays weave unexpectedly into each other and create such depth. This —I love in poetry. tré bién! —Jill |
| Posted by Tony Whitaker on 12/07/07 at 08:44 AM Such a lyrcial quality and the word "builds" are amazing. I especially like repeating the first stanza as the last, like bookends, or a turnaround in a song. |
| Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 12/08/07 at 03:24 PM I, too, love the weaving of words in this as the meaning extends into the next line. Great title and use of the river's depths. |
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