I am a river drunk and stumbling
toward the Ionian Sea. I cut divots
in the earth at Thermopylae
where they tell Xerxes, "molon labe,"
and he does.
I am the bank of a river in Varanasi
old as time. They burn the dead
in my arms, float votives and lotus
petals to please the gods. I am
coming to the point I can no
longer hold back all the holiness.
I am a boat on a river searching
for the drowned. They load me up
with whiskey and grappling hooks,
prod the bottom with great poles
until a face like mine appears,
and they drag it out by the hair.
Psalms for Rivers
Re: Psalms for Rivers
Really good poem, I like the changes you made. I nom his poem.
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Re: Psalms for Rivers
That last stanza is splendid. Strong work.
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Re: Psalms for Rivers
Thank you Billy and Bob
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Re: Psalms for Rivers
Hi Ken,
Yes, the reincarnation of the finale, makes strong even stronger
1/ Maybe this suggestion will also strengthen more
Instead of the pronoun "they," workshop-consider -
in the earth at Thermopylae
where the Spartans tell Xerxes, "molon labe,"
and he does.
or
in the earth at Thermopylae
where Leonidas tells Xerxes, "molon labe,"
and he does.
2/ a typo: Should "Varnasi" be Varanasi
Michael (MV)
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Re: Psalms for Rivers
a typo: Should "Varnasi" be Varanasi
Good eye. If you knew that without having to look it up, I'm impressed.
Good eye. If you knew that without having to look it up, I'm impressed.