Famous Riverbank Poems by Famous Poets

These are examples of famous Riverbank poems written by some of the greatest and most-well-known modern and classical poets. PoetrySoup is a great educational poetry resource of famous riverbank poems. These examples illustrate what a famous riverbank poem looks like and its form, scheme, or style (where appropriate).

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Jueju (Enjoying Flowers Walking Alone on a Riverbank, No. 5 of 7)

... Huang abbot pagoda before river water east Spring bright lazy sleepy rely on light wind Peach blossom one clump open without owner Lovely deep red love light red Before Abbot Huang's pagoda, east of the river water, Spring is bright and delicate in the gentle breeze. One clump of peach blossom's...Read more of this...
by Fu, Du


Jueju (Enjoying Flowers Walking Alone on a Riverbank, No. 6 of 7)

... Huangsi girl house flowers fill path Thousand blossom ten thousand blossom press branch low Reluctant to leave play butterfly constantly dance Free and unrestrained lovely oriole cry At Huang Si's house, flowers fill the path, Myriad blossoms press the branches low. Constantly dancing butterflie...Read more of this...
by Fu, Du

Krishna, 3:29 Am

..., gained another, lost a third.

There’s nothing you’ll inherit, neither per stirpes nor per capita

No plot by the riverbank in your father’s village of Kozencheri

Or by the burning ghat in Varanasi.

All you have is a writing hand smeared with ink and little bits of paper

Swirling in a violent wind.

I am a blue-black child cheeks swollen with a butter ball

I stole from mama’s kitchen

Stones and sky and stars melt in my mouth

Wooden spoon in hand she ...Read more of this...
by Alexander, Meena

Replying to Subprefect Zhang

...rn old forest 
Pine wind blow undo belt 
Hill moon light pluck qin 
Gentleman ask end open reason 
Fisherman song enter riverbank deep 


Now in old age, I know the value of silence, 
The world's affairs no longer stir my heart. 
Turning to myself, I have no greater plan, 
All I can do is return to the forest of old. 
Wind from the pine trees blows my sash undone, 
The moon shines through the hills; I pluck the qin. 
You ask me why the world must rise and fall, 
Fishermen sin...Read more of this...
by Wei, Wang

Sunflower Sutra

...peaks, no fish in that stream, no hermit in those mounts, just ourselves rheumy-eyed and hung-over like old bums on the riverbank, tired and wily.

Look at the Sunflower, he said, there was a dead gray shadow against the sky, big as a man, sitting dry on top of a pile of ancient sawdust--

--I rushed up enchanted--it was my first sunflower, memories of Blake--my visions--Harlem

and Hells of the Eastern rivers, bridges clanking Joes greasy Sandwiches, dead baby carriage...Read more of this...
by Ginsberg, Allen


The Congo: A Study of the Negro Race

...G THROUGH THE BLACK,
More deliberate. Solemnly chanted.
CUTTING THROUGH THE FOREST WITH A GOLDEN TRACK.
Then along that riverbank
A thousand miles
Tattooed cannibals danced in files;
Then I heard the boom of the blood-lust song
And a thigh-bone beating on a tin-pan gong.
A rapidly piling climax of speed & racket.
And "BLOOD" screamed the whistles and the fifes of the warriors,
"BLOOD" screamed the skull-faced, lean witch-doctors,
"Whirl ye the deadly voo-doo rattle,
Harry the...Read more of this...
by Lindsay, Vachel

The Shanty On The Rise

...e Shanty on the Rise. 

They got up a Christmas party in the Shanty long ago, 
While I camped with Jimmy Nowlett on the riverbank below; 
Poor old Jim was in his glory -- they'd elected him M.C., 
For there wasn't such another raving lunatic as he. 
`Mr. Nowlett, Mr. Swaller!' shouted Something-in-Disguise, 
As we walked into the parlour of the Shanty on the Rise. 

There is little real pleasure in the city where I am -- 
There's a swarry round the corner with its mockery and...Read more of this...
by Lawson, Henry

Wanting The Moon

...ss the water as if close up.

A jester. The music rings from his bells,
gravely, a tune of sorrow,

I dance to it on my riverbank....Read more of this...
by Levertov, Denise

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