“I Can Hear the Water Cry”

On By Mike U.In Poetry

“I Can Hear the Water Cry”
(c) 2024 by Michael L. Utley

misty river bank
I can hear the water cry
through its mournful veil

from whence your tears
my friend
from whence your sorrow
the stream of life
long and arduous
promises nothing
takes wantonly
yet gives freely
drowns dreams
yet slakes hope’s thirst
erodes time
yet blesses leas
with hue and humor

I have bathed my feet
in your cool waters
drunk from cupped hands
of your living essence
and watched
as villages flood
and crops perish
your fickle nature
both boon and bane
the rage of winter’s run-off
the futility of summer’s drought
the chaos of confusion
the trauma of neglect

regrets eddy
among the reeds
koi doze in shadow-torpor
levitating dragonflies iridesce
oblivious to your siren-song
your current inexorable
immutable
fate’s dynamo

what of your sadness
what fears drive you
what memories haunt
your hidden heart
speak to me, friend
share your burden
help me understand
your tears

there is purity
in kindness
absolution in love
such a pity
a solitary meadow’s stream
a rill of life
darkened by despair

I see you, stream
I hear your halting whisperings
I smell your vital fragrance
I feel your urgent motion
I sense your profound depth
you are not alone
my friend
the mountain cradles you
the forest shades you
the flowers dance
to your melody
let the sun gild your surface
let the moon caress you
let your heart be
unencumbered
flow, my friend
just flow

and all
will be forgiven

34 thoughts on ““I Can Hear the Water Cry””

  2. Oh, this is absolutely radiant, Mike. The beautiful imagery stuns as the emotions run deep in this evocative piece. This stanza is especially powerful,
    “there is purity
    in kindness
    absolution in love
    such a pity
    a solitary meadow’s stream
    a rill of life
    darkened by despair.”

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  5. “let your heart be
    unencumbered
    flow, my friend
    just flow

    and all
    will be forgiven”

    So so beautiful poem, my dear friend Mike.. 👍

    “there is purity
    in kindness
    absolution in love”

    Love it👍

    Liked by 4 people

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  6. rajkkhoja's avatar rajkkhoja

    So nice written you poem. I am inspired. Emotionally words usein . I like.

    “what of your sadnesswhat fears drive youwhat memories hauntyour hidden heartspeak to me, friendshare your burdenhelp me understandyour tears“

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    1. Many thanks, dear friend. I appreciate your kindness and thank you for always visiting my blog and reading my poems. I hope you’re doing well and I wish you a good week ahead. 😊

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  7. Mike, a truly amazing poem! I love the personification of the stream as a friend. The imagery and the spectrum of emotions is engaging, you have drawn us in to befriend the stream as well. Well done, friend!

    I don’t think I can sit by one of our streams without remembering your poetry. “flow, my friend, just flow
    and all will be forgiven.”
    Stunning!

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    1. Thanks a bunch, Peggy. Your kindness means so much to me. Thank you for remembering my poems while sitting streamside. What a humbling honor this is for me! I appreciate you so much, my friend. I’ve fallen behind a bit in responding to comments and just now trying to get caught up. Hope you’re doing well, and say hello to the stream for me, will you? 😊

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    1. Kindest thanks, Kirsten There’s just something special about a stream, isn’t there? My favorite spot on the planet is Heceta Head Lighthouse along the central Oregon Coast. Feeding into the ocean near the lighthouse is Cape Creek, a rather nondescript stream that leads back into the forested Coastal Range mountains. I hiked up this stream a ways in 1995 and found it to be the most tranquil place I’d ever seen. So quiet, peaceful, still and fragrant, and the water was so clear. A hidden treasure that has stayed with me all these years. 

      Thanks as always for your wonderful support, my friend. I appreciate you. 😊

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  13. I like how in the end we are assured that we are seen.
    “you are not alone
    my friend
    the mountain cradles you
    the forest shades you
    the flowers dance
    to your melody
    let the sun gild your surface
    let the moon caress you”
    Thanks so much. Lovely. As always.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. Kindest thanks, Selma. We all deserve to be seen, acknowledged and loved. Even those of us who feel like lonely meadow streams. 

      I appreciate you, my friend. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment. 😊

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