Rising River
The crash of calamitous
rainfall creates a beast of a river
that batters its banks.
Scoured by trees with trunks
twisted from their frail grasp,
gouged beyond recognition,
swallowed as waters rise,
the shores silently succumb
to a watery wasteland.
We wonder what will be left
when the waters finally recede,
the banks far from their former place.
This is my response to the prompt from Björn at dVerse ~ Poets Pub, Meet the bar with dissonance, where dissonance may add an unsettling emotion that may be crucial to describing unpleasant topics, perhaps by using harsh consonants, breaking up assonance with various vowels, etc. I’ve decided to use some harsh sounds and an excess of alliteration, as well as what could be an unsettling topic. I returned home from kayaking to find this prompt and thought, hey… why not?
rivrvlogr 
Your video poem is excellent! I could feel the destructive force of that river.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Liz! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Ken! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoyed the video poem – and hearing you reading – always good. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. 🙂
LikeLike
That first stanza really sets the scene. What will be left? A question to ponder on many levels. (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
In mid-Missouri, weather has always been up and down in the 10 years I’ve been here. It allows me to get on the water at least once a month, since a 60º or 70º day is bound to occur in January or February. However, even with recent rain, we’re in a prolonged drought. Back in February, that river was so low that at one point, when I headed back upstream, I had to muck my way along the shore carrying my kayak for 150 feet because I made the mistake of going downstream over an area that was too shallow to return.
And people say that climate change isn’t a thing.
Thank you, Kerfe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s hard to understand the continued denial. The Times had a map today of drought in the West–they were talking about fire danger. But it encompasses so much more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
here in the parched west, the cruelty of too much rain is countered by far too little ~
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t heard a recent analysis, but in May it was said that the abnormal amount of rain we’d had received in Missouri for the previous six weeks still hadn’t lifted us out of a prolonged drought.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Analysis shows west is in midst of drought the severity of which hasn’t been seen in 1200 years. And it was cooler back then too. Some experts estimate it would be 60% less severe without anthropogenic factors
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here in Australia we have just had the most devastating floods and the aftermath has seen some towns contemplating moving to a safer place. Very appropriate poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, John. These days, weather theory seems to redefine itself on a regular basis.
LikeLike
I have known that beast, you capture it perfectly ken.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Thanks, Paul.
LikeLike
Video plus narration, wow, that is uptown cool. Your alliteration works well, and it is grand to hear you read it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, sir!
LikeLike
Love your video poetry! Timing could not have been better for me ~~~ a torrential downpour with small hail yesterday on the High Desert. We needed it badly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Helen. 🙂
Here’s to better weather!
LikeLike
So well-done, video, reading, and poem.
I’ve read about some gruesome finds lately as waters have receded.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Merril. This high water is typical from runoff during a storm, but it will recede in a few days. Low levels have been the norm for the past year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope the water finds a balance. Weather has been so crazy everywhere.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“swallowed as waters rise, the shores silently succumb to a watery wasteland,”.. goodness this is incredibly potent, Ken! Kudos on video poetry!❤️❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀 Thank you, Sanaa.
LikeLike
Loved this, video and poem! Beautifully integrated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀 Thank you, Lynne.
LikeLike
A thoughtful video poem from the river…makes a statement on our society as well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadly so. Thank you, Lynne.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Again, the last line
is the best
LikeLike
The rivers breaking their paths will cause havoc in so many places… and we believe we can control nature… humbug.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And humbling. 😉
LikeLike
Yes. You described that thunderous crashing moment…when the banks break, when the torrents thunder…and all is different after…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Ain.
If only you weren’t living through that right now, even if it’s not a force of nature wreaking havoc in Ukraine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I saw the allegory in your poem…it is hard to explain..the war is horrible, and must end, at the earliest. But at least we are doing good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mother Nature can be unpredictable! Nicely done, Ken!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Susi. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Ken! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person