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The River Styx

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An extract from my epic poem The Way of Trilobites, available on Amazon. See PS classified.

On the bank of the river Styx, Life and death and forever mix, There’s no keeping who its water picks, Say farewell by the river Styx. I lived my life in the land of light, Yet now I cross to the realm of night. I’ve no sorrow for my poor plight: Yet I wonder if I left things right. Was I smiling in my heart each day? Was I loving in the things I’d say? Was I steady, or did I stray? Did I leave things in a better way? On the bank of the river Styx, Life and death and forever mix, There’s no keeping who its water picks, Say farewell by the river Styx. You were smiling in your heart each day, You were loving in the things you’d say. You were steady, nor did you stray, And you left things in a better way. I loved your life in the land of light, Yet now you cross to the realm of night. How I sorrow for your poor plight! How I wish that I could make things right! On the bank of the river Styx, Life and death and forever mix, There’s no keeping who its water picks, Say farewell by the river Styx. Though there’s sorrow when the river’s crossed, And I sorrow that my youth turned frost, My tears are that our touch is lost, That alone shall be the crushing cost. Will you keep me in your heart’s warm place? Will I bring a smile upon your face? And shall our love cross time and space? Or will I vanish without a trace? On the bank of the river Styx, Life and death and forever mix, There’s no keeping who its water picks, Say farewell by the river Styx. I will keep you in my heart’s warm place, And you’ll bring a smile upon my face. And our love shall cross time and space, You’ll never vanish without a trace. Though there’s sorrow when the river’s crossed, And I sorrow that your youth turned frost, Have no tears that our touch is lost, For our love exceeds what death can cost. On the bank of the river Styx, Life and death and forever mix, There’s no keeping who its water picks, Say farewell by the river Styx.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2025




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Date: 1/28/2025 2:08:00 PM
Your poem, The River Styx, is a hauntingly beautiful meditation on love, loss, and the eternal questions that accompany the crossing from life to death. Thank you for creating such a poignant and comforting work that skillfully blends mythic imagery with deeply personal emotion.
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Jerrold Prothero
Date: 2/11/2025 2:00:00 PM
Thank you, you are very kind.

Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry