River Rising

RIVER RISING

you creep up to my feet
after days and days
of rain (not forty days, 
forty nights), but biblical
nonetheless.
you beckon me to perform
a virginia woolf, to slide
a stone into my pocket
and dip myself 
into your healing
rush of silt and mud.

it is a possibility,
it is inviting,
but there are no stones
on the shore.
you have washed
them all away.
you have taken
even the possibility
of taking a swim
away from me.
(you cannot (will not) be forgiven).

i have thought about it.
thought about accepting
your invitation, but
you have promised me
nothing in return.
not even the possibility
of spitting me out
whole, bruised,
horribly damaged.
perhaps, you should have offered
me the chance to rise up, like you,

like lazarus.  horribly damaged,
yes, but a second chance,
nonetheless.

Copyrighted
March 13, 2011
Copyright © | Year Posted 2011

Poem

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12
A   Avatar
October 18, 2012 at 9:03 PM
JIm, here I am with a be-lated :-) congratulations with your wonderful win in the " April, 2011 Contest " It is very nice to see you on this winning list..*'.*'.*' hip hip hooray. Good night :-) always~ PD
Goudreau Avatar
October 27, 2011 at 8:10 PM
Heartfelt and awesome imagery! Congratulations on your winnings! Well deserved.
Blomberg Avatar
October 9, 2011 at 6:15 AM
Beautiful poem painting a clear picture. I do have comments on the way brackets are used. The first closing bracket is behind "nights", but should be behind "nonetheless"; that way the whole sentence between brackets belongs together. Further down you have brackets within brackets, which I do not like. The bottom-line is that as a rule I do not like parentheses in poems.
Laan Avatar
September 18, 2011 at 5:51 AM
Wonderful visuals in this poem, I felt I was there. Stunning.
Haick Avatar
September 10, 2011 at 9:14 PM
Amazing imagery! Congratulations on a well-deserved win, Jim. Annalise
Villanueva Avatar
August 28, 2011 at 9:54 AM
CONGRATULATIONS~~~~really an amazing and well-deserved win~~~*-*junjun~~~~smile~~~~
Ramage Avatar
August 27, 2011 at 8:36 PM
congratulations on this win! well done. Lee
Sweetheart Avatar
August 23, 2011 at 7:59 PM
Congrats Jim on your wonderful win in PS International Contest ..dynamic piece luv..
Suzadail Jr. Avatar
August 23, 2011 at 4:07 PM
Congrats Jim on your finish in the poetry soup contest, no small accomplishment. God Bless. Vince
Ramsdale Avatar
August 23, 2011 at 3:42 PM
Congratulations April, 2011 4th Place Contest Winner! Caryl Ramsdale
Brown Avatar
August 23, 2011 at 7:43 AM
Congratulations on your placement in PoetrySoup's International Poetry Contest Jim. I am very happy for you. Love, Carol
Poet Avatar
August 22, 2011 at 4:39 PM
Congratulations Jim on your big win in the International Contest.Enjoyed.
Yadav Avatar
August 22, 2011 at 2:41 PM
''perhaps you should have offered me a chance to rise up like you''....:)...loved reading..and congratulations to you for your win, Jim....
Mehta Avatar
August 22, 2011 at 12:35 PM
Congratulations on the fourth place win this international contest, Jim
Freeman Avatar
August 22, 2011 at 10:48 AM
A great job, Jim. I enjoyed your poem. Enjoy your winnings. Big smile. Agape, Moses
Muzzey Avatar
August 22, 2011 at 10:05 AM
Congratulations Jim on your fabulous Soup win with this wonderful write. Enjoy your honor, I enjoyed the read. Caryl
Devonshire Avatar
August 22, 2011 at 9:51 AM
What an excellent verse, Jim. So happy to see your winning in the Soup Admin's contest. Congratulations! Love, Carolyn
Kendrick Avatar
August 22, 2011 at 8:07 AM
Congrats on your success..Sara
Osita Avatar
August 22, 2011 at 8:05 AM
This is very intense, Jim. Many congrats on your amazing win in poetry soup international contest. *Cheers*
Marcum Wong Avatar
August 22, 2011 at 3:28 AM
Congratulations on a most deserved win Jim. Your imagery is just outstanding!
Ronthorpe Avatar
August 21, 2011 at 11:46 PM
Great job. Congrats.
George   Avatar
August 21, 2011 at 11:22 PM
Powerfull narrative indeed. Many congratulations on your SUPER WIN in the Poetry Soup International Competition. Elaine
Brown Avatar
August 2, 2011 at 10:19 AM
Congratulations on your poetry making it through round one in the PoetrySoup International Poetry contest Jim. I wish you the best in the final round. Love, Carol
Brown Avatar
May 31, 2011 at 7:56 AM
Congratulations Jim on your well deserved feature this week. Love, Carol
Mehta Avatar
May 30, 2011 at 6:18 PM
Congratulations on your poem being featured this week, Jim
12
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