River Song (Better Place Suite)

River Song is a fusion of two poems, both of which have been published in the All of Me collection, courtesy of Shadow Spark Publishing (as Preamble and River Slide respectively). This arrangement pays homage to A Better Place by Sub Love. Featured art is by Brooke Shaden.

Listen to River Song by Richard Charles Stevens (Better Place Suite)

I used to come to this place as a child
There was always something about this particular river
I liked the way it ran wild and untamed
Even when the air was dense
It breathed me in and breathed me out the same way facing
All embracing nature all the same
.
I felt Home in this place
And each time I returned it felt that I had never been so far away
Seen through the eyes of a child
It prized a treasure trove of trinkets and fancies no less than expansive
Nothing was off limits not a mirror image timid
As I basked in my reflection dreams no longer seemed so rigid
No explicit recollection whether I had been here days or hours or minutes
.
Lifting the globe I defied my own physics
Relied on my instincts to clinch a fit path through the heart of the trees
A remarkable feat for a sailor ordained
To the marginal seas of a harbour foreseen no imaginative scene
a harbour foreseen no imaginative scene
(seen)
.
ebbs and flows reposed in braid
the river then ran freely
.

the river then ran freely
its ebbs and flows composing scene
undressed of predisposing genes
midday sun unsung in closing speech
to teach the leaves to reach the breeze
in piquancy
to meet and greet the coastal reef and breathe
the flora at her feet arose between her toes
while sloping greens made known
the growth of seeds she sowed
in swollen streams discreetly showed
noble trees wore ocean sleeves
of hopeful dreams foreseen
each broken wave an ornate keepsake
of the cradled open seas
melancholic monsters muted
thick grey mist short shrift diluted
rosebud lips of prior brooded
bled the briar range secluded
wept of resolute and bearing
glaring sun and waxing moon
darned in timeless serenade
of raptured bloom attuned unsparing
never to forsake the stars
venerating scars agape
ebbs and flows reposed in braid
the river then ran freely
.
the flora at her feet arose
to slow her heartbeat
heel to toe
while telling leaves of fell made known
the altered course serenely charted
keenly she proceeded
through the sweep of dreams dearly departed
memories uniquely guarded
not a frowned belief down hearted
postulation unmigrated
each sped tread hence elevated
graduating steep incline
to breathe the skies
retrieve the stars
intrust of clustered dust
to buff the bust of weeping scars
indeed each silent beat enhanced of crackle
grappled for ascendency
dappling the pulse of each compulsion deemed dependency
for here the ebbs and flows reposed in braid
in twine
of kind inclined
her eyes reclined
the river then ran freely
.
her eyes reclined
the river then ran freely
.
Rock and a hard place between I proceeded
The pathway before me implored no brief story
Fell halfway to knees as the leaves told their tale
For all their felled glory seemed keen to prevail
As I breathed in my cheeks lessened pale
Rose red were the breaths I exhaled
While the bed of water lilies by my feet made indiscreet
Their best intentions to perfect me as their centrepiece
Imperfections were my plentiful degree
Eventually to be dependably protected by the senses gleaned attentively
Suspended were the fears and apprehensions so lamentably erected in my mental penitentiary
I felt home in this place
Pacing the lagunes of my imagination forward facing
All embracing nature
I felt five again
A child again
This River brave ran wild again
Adventure sense beguiled again
Remembering to smile again
I ventured to the high terrain and came to rest at precipice
Alight again
(Alight again)
.
the river then ran freely
its ebbs and flows composing scene
undressed of predisposing genes
midday sun unsung inclosing speech
to teach the leaves to reach the breeze
in piquancy
to meet and greet the coastal reef and breathe
(Alight again)
.
melancholic monsters muted
thick grey mist short shrift diluted
rosebud lips of prior brooded
bled the briar range secluded
wept of resolute and bearing
glaring sun and waxing moon
darned in timeless serenade
of raptured bloom attuned unsparing
never to forsake the stars
venerating scars agape
ebbs and flows reposed in braid
the river then ran freely
.