2 Responses to Poetry on the Grand River

1. penncosect24 says:

   September 13, 2018 at 1:23 am

   To your river poetry, may I add Isaiah Beethovan’s story from Edgar Lee Master’s Spoon River Anthology?

   They told me I had three months to live,
   So I crept to Bernadotte,
   And sat by the mill for hours and hours
   Where the gathered waters deeply moving
   Seemed not to move:
   O world, that’s you!
   You are but a widened place in the river
   Where Life looks down and and we rejoice for her
   Mirrored in us, and so we dream
   And turn away, but when again
   We look for the face, behold the low-lands
   And blasted cotton-wood trees where we empty
   Into the larger stream!
   But here by the mill the castled clouds
   Mocked themselves in the dizzy water;
   And over its agate floor at night
   The flame of the moon ran under my eyes
   Amid a forest stillness broken
   By the flute in a hut on the hill.
   At last when I came to lie in bed
   Weak and in pain, with the dreams about me,
   The soul of the river had entered my soul,
   And the gathered power of my soul was moving
   So swiftly it seemed to be at rest
   Under cities of cloud and under
   Spheres of silver and changing worlds —
   Until I saw a flash of trumpets
   Above the battlements over Time!

   The rhythm of paddling lends itself to poetry! Or song — look no farther than the songs of the voyageuers who traveled the lakes and rivers of North America!

   A parent who recited the poems of A. E. Housman must have been special for you. Poetry, humor and canoeing — what a great way to spend time together as brothers. Thanks for sharing this post. I thought it was wonderful.

   Reply
2. thecedarjournal says:

   September 13, 2018 at 3:37 pm

   Reblogged this on The Cedar Journal and commented:
   Ahhh… canoeing with these guys must be a hoot. I am so glad they share their adventures.

   Reply