Best Riverbank Poems
Am Ufer des Flusses
Bevor die Sonne erlischt
Nur leichtes Gurgeln
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At the river banks
Before the sun finally sets
Only a slight gurgle
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A orillas del río
Antes que el sol desaparece
Sólo ligero gorgoteo
__________________________
Nur eine alte Eiche
Da hinter der Wegbiegung
Trotzte dem letzen Sturm
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Only an old oak tree
There behind the road bend
Defied the last storm
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Sólo un viejo roble
Detrás de la revuelta del camino
Desafió la última tormenta
RIVERBANK
The river of life flows fast toward the weir
This scene is now reality, not a pantomime
So smile for the ferryman as he draws near
Is that sweet music that you can now hear
It is calling softly with a melody so sublime
The river of life flows fast toward the weir
There are now only memories to hold dear
As recent years pass, they no longer rhyme
So smile for the ferryman as he draws near
Be resigned to one’s fate, then shed a tear
The underworld is calling, no need to climb
The river of life flows fast toward the weir
Shared understanding as others gather here
In the distance, can you hear the bell chime
So smile for the ferryman as he draws near
With no more to be done, it would appear
The beginning of the end, now is your time
The river of life flows fast toward the weir
So smile for the ferryman as he draws near
A bee sipping nectar from a flower
A sparrow sipping dew from a leaf
A butterfly on his way to somewhere
Pays us a visit but it was only brief
A duck quacks out on the water
And we hear a Kingfisher splash
An elegant swan glides effortlessly by
And the dragonfly makes a dash
Orphaned Christmas conifers heap'd
Side by side Assiniboine bank
Native green and vertical felled
Blackened aboriginal limbs
White Man gasoline chainsaw teeth.
A
Yorkshire
scene of old
on river's bank…
This detailed painting tempts my yearning soul.
It takes me on a sweet nostalgic trip
when time lingered
near water’s
lazy
flow.
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Picture 2
A Double Tetractys 8 Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Eve Roper
Placed 1st
© 31st August 2021
A pretty girl stands
On the riverbank in a windy day
Under the noon sunshine
She follows the water way
A gentle gusty disarranges
Her long black-silk hair
From her face and eyes
She takes hold of the flair
The gust tears her hair scarf away,
Twisting in the air
Fluttering and chuting
On the water surface with despair
The awful torrent takes away
Her souvenir to drown
She recalls her love story
And his face pops up around
He gifted her this hair scarf
During their distant vacation
It’s fastened her hair,
Tied her heart for a short duration
Their honey days broke down,
Her soul flew in a nightmare
Love has gone like the gust tore
The scarf from her hair
The scarf and the sorrow story
Together sink under the water
The happiness of a life
Could not replay over and over
The Time pulls everything forward,
Left behind the prints
Pretty girl observes the scene,
Letting her hair waving
The luminescence of low hanging mist whirls
Agitated winds shiver the tall cottonwoods
The ever present sound of the old river passing
She stands on the small rustic pier daydreaming
Watching the waters carry an old tugboat south
She waves as the captain sounds his sad horn
A breeze catches the hem of her dress, lifting it upward
Her long slender legs and bare feet exposed to morning rays
A single teardrop falls from her troubled eye
She knows she will soon be leaving this magical place
Traveling far to the western desert, and away from her folks
She turns and leaves, making her way up the wet path
She ponders her anxious future amid the vines of honeysuckle
The smell of bacon soon fills her senses as her home appears
Smoke curling down from the antique stone chimney
Porch steps squeak, the screen door slaps, she has decided
© Copyrights G. Jones 2006
Seashells oh seashells laying on the riverbank
You fill my eye's with content
The way you lay there looking all mighty
As the breeze brushes over your shell
Flowing water dance's on the riverbank
As the cranes fishes for a bite
The sound of waves beating against they beaks
Can creates melodies that'll make you feel relief
Crabs marches out on a morning stroll
With no intention of making friend or foe
Burn the river scenery into your mind
For the sunsets once in everyday
And you can feel free by just staring into space
Rocks rumble as engane boats passes by
As the kids jump for joy hearing tales of pirates who once sail the sea
Oh riverbank you complete us
For we have no where else to go when feeling sad and low
Just staring at our reflecting can calm us down
Riverbank only you knows our struggle
Down along the riverbank
Crawling through the sand
Walk carefully and keep quiet
For danger is at hand
You hope to find a place to hide
But who you meet is much worse
She's evil and she's grotesque
She's wicked and she's cursed
The restless soul of someone dark
She brings only misery and death
She lures the unsuspecting
So she can steal their spark
With pale skin and withered hands
And eyes as dull as coal
She'll pull you down into the depths
She wants to steal your soul!
Author: Kristin Bordelon
Flowing river’s beating drums
Open up all of mind’s doors
Overwhelming internal spurts
Give rise to verses of sentimental words
Big and small rocks in the river
Show foundations of natural graceful water structures
Snowy foam on surface of water
Resembles glossy silvery stirring pinnacles
Golden rays of mid afternoon sun
Sparkle nearby vegetation
Bushes appearing near rocks of the stream
Bring back lotus floras' elapsed reminiscence
Colorful butterflies and bees
Enjoy the season’s remaining flower glees
Leaping grasshoppers startle
Showing unique splashes of brilliantly colored wings
Softly blowing wind’s gust
Cuddles the body with its tender touch
Melodies of brook’s sweet jingles
Lulls the mind, helps enjoy the concert
Liveliness at the banks of the river
Show dynamism of nature’s life-force
Jovial mind becomes ecstatic
Spreads out its vibrant expressive feathers
grey heron stalks prey
a silent assassin poised ...
sun breaks through dark clouds
Writing Challenge 3, May 2019, Nature Haiku Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Dear Hear
5/24/19
I sat by the riverbank today and wondered
How long it takes the water to get to the Gulf
Considered things my inquisitive mind ponders
Like what is so enjoyable about playing golf?
Save for an afternoon stroll, I see few merits
Especially since my back has developed kinks
My bag of clubs, the works, my son will inherit
While I spend afternoons catching forty winks.
I sat by the riverbank today and wondered
If those barges ever break loose in rebellion,
[Since their burden is a product plundered],
And run amok like some undisciplined hellion.
I suspect I should beware of my mind adrift
For, at my age, questioning can embarrass,
Although the soothing water gives me a lift
A day like this spent idling is simply fabulous.
BRONZE MEDAL WINNER
Written April 12, 2022
"Anything Goes" Poetry Contest
All Poetry
April 19, 2022
The river
perhaps a place to contemplate creation's plan.
The river
perhaps a place to question the existence of woman and man.
At the river I left city behind
And rid many creations within my mind.
Its waters an invitation to see the unknown
Its shore an inspiration and a comforting home.
And while by the riverbank
my mind became still, completely blank.
An end for meaning and reasons to see
for by peering at its running water, it’s clarity clear to me.
The river
displaying creation’s plan.
The river
a place to find purpose for me, woman and man.
I sit by the riverbank.
I watch as days go by.
I lean against this old oak tree.
I gaze up to the sky.
I sit by the river bank.
I enjoy this tranquil bliss.
I get lost in age old thoughts.
I sit and reminisce.
I sit by the riverbank.
I wish that you were here.
I know that you are with me.
I know that you are near.
I sit by the river bank.
I see the boats go by.
I miss you every day my love.
Why did you have to die?
We sat by this river bank.
We watched the days go by.
We leaned against this old oak tree.
We gazed up to the sky.
A rose resting by the riverbank,
Tickling my toes in the evening sun,
As I muse in the breezes and wander,
Wander and dwell on my twilight run.
I must take care not to crush your nighttime petals,
Nor spoil the yellow rose of Texas,
That I may remember my girlhood skips,
In the sunshine of nostalgia.