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River Poems | Examples of River Poetry

Premium Member Summer Sonnet: River-Woman
Awakened! I returned a stream in Spring to flow and grow on nature’s snowmelt milk. I came to be of earth and sky (...a fling), my sire a winter storm. Like liquid silk emerging, I was born; a water-child. Between two banks I nestled with my dreams and bloomed a gAnGLy creek ‘til solstice. Wild I played— not meek but sleek....

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Categories: river, earth, freedom, growth, life,
Form: Sonnet
Premium Member Born For This
I’m born a stream with winter’s thaw. On swiftness from steep slopes I draw. Beneath the sun, I gather steam. With winter’s thaw, I’m born a stream. I warmer grow as on I run. I gather steam beneath the sun. With river kin I’ll likely flow. As on I run, I warmer grow. I may grow wide; I may grow thin. I’ll likely...

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Categories: river,
Form: Quatrain



Premium Member Waterfall
whitewater appeared a rumbling roar filled the air the waterfall’s near ...

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Categories: nature, river, water,
Form: Senryu
Premium Member Writing Like the Dickens
It’s so hard to start Brain and pen, poles apart Yet two lines in, the pace quickens Soon you’re writing like the dickens Thoughts stream in and out your head ...

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Categories: bird, flying, river, words,
Form: Couplet
Follow the flow of the Tees
Follow the flow of the Tees Meet the folk whose sweat and tears shaped the land, brought in the bounty, shifted the steel to build Better places. Follow the flow of the Tees. Meet the people who fish in peace. Look for a seal or two. See them bobbing, watching you watching them. Observe them catching the rays of the sun on the...

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Categories: river, animal, appreciation, culture, fishing,
Form: Free verse



Premium Member Life On The River
A balance in life can solve the riddle. To find the balance, start in the middle. Distractions from the banks may lead us wrong. Go with the flow where the current is strong. The banks are sirens calling to our ears, offering us pleasures relieving fears. The emotion of love, the fear of pain, tossing and turning, driving us insane. Too much...

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Categories: river, addiction, adventure, beauty, freedom,
Form: Sonnet
Matsuo Basho: English translations of Haku about Summer 1
Matsuo Basho: English translations of haiku about summer, life, sun, sunshine, sunlight, melons, willows, rain, rivers, hats, shade, sad, sadness. Such coolness when shouldered: the summer’s first melon. —Matsuo Basho, translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch A wicker basket shields the coolness of the first melon. —Matsuo Basho, translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Morning dew: the muddy melon exudes coolness. —Matsuo Basho, translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Early summer...

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Categories: horse, life, river, sad,
Form: Haiku
Matsuo Basho English Translations: Spring 1
Matsuo Basho Haiku: English Translations of haiku about seasons, spring, rain, moon, flowers, blossoms, wind, river, etc. Blame the rainy season for my absence, old friend Moon. —Matsuo Basho, translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch For yet a little while, the pale moon floating among blossoms... —Matsuo Basho, translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Moon past full: darkness increasing. —Matsuo Basho, translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Spring rains so heavy they overflow...

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Categories: flower, moon, rain, river,
Form: Haiku
Premium Member Misty River Rainbows
the river disappeared into a misty maze as rainbow gardens grew and bowed their pretty heads like flowers in the rain... written July 6, 2025 for Nette Onclaud's Some Kind of Misty contest...

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Categories: river, allusion,
Form: Free verse
A river
Jasmine aroma riding the evening winds Blinds draw them inside Arms are intertwined Water collects in the high hills Looking for a gate to melt its thrill Rain joins beating many a thorn They clash and unite A river is born ___________ 5 July 2025...

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Categories: river, image, imagery, metaphor,
Form: Verse
Premium Member Possum
babies on her back the possum crossed the river a log was her bridge ...

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Categories: animal, baby, mother, river,
Form: Haiku
Wordless Peace
The river moves but never dies, It carries all it cannot keep. Beneath its glass, the silence lies, A cradle where the old dreams sleep. I watch it wind through stone and silt, A silver ribbon pulled by time. It bears the weight of love and guilt, And every joy we failed to climb. I see my face in trembling glass, A thousand selves...

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Categories: river, emotions, introspection, metaphor, peace,
Form: Rhyme
Premium Member Hungry Bear
bear wading in the stream bear grabs a jumping salmon bear feeds his hunger ...

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Categories: river, animal, fish, fishing, food,
Form: Haiku
In the Cradle
Forged in the cradle of crumbling stone, The river murmured like an elder's song, A silver thread through earth’s old bones, Unraveling what never should belong. Like lightning shaped in liquid skin, It laced through logs and shattered pride, No war was waged against the din, Just gentle strength that slipped beside. Over time, I’ve clung to rigid dreams, Iron branches in...

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Categories: river, growth, identity, introspection, life,
Form: Rhyme
Premium Member Stepping Stones Standing
step stones across stream look easy to pick and tread some were raised upright wanting to be idolised ~ as landfall stands for the soul...

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Categories: river,
Form: Tanka

Specific Types of River Poems

Definition | What is River in Poetry?


Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry