Monday, May 7, 2012

A River


                                                   Image:  River Irwell by R.A.D. Stainforth

Picture Credit: Courtesy of Tess' Magpie

Doses of sincere opinions
Transparent in their stance
The sense of touch was all they needed
They extended their verdicts
The blind men  and the elephant

They were now called upon again
They could tell us a thing or two
Of how they ‘viewed’ a movement
Their philosophy of a flowing body of water
The blind men and the river

It’s now telepathic the blind men said
Devoid of a physical touch
They sensed  their ‘view’ through remote
Honed through skillful experience

A river was  peaceful,
serene in its flow said one
No, it’s lazily lethargic and slow
said the other. It’s secretive,
dungeons full of mysteries  below
A river had given life, sustained life
Hydro electric power, Omega-3 power
said the quiet one
Wait a minute, I’ve ‘seen’ different
said another, the fury unleashed to Man and property….
destruction all the way

Rivers conjured myriads in our minds
The philosophical one countered
I could see it, I could see it
Akin to Man in his dealings

Written for Tess’ Magpie #116 

18 comments:

  1. "Akin to man and his dealings" You captured the many facets of rivers and men so nicely. And the blind men see so well.

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  2. Surely not up the creek without paddle with your verse, as you captured the essense of it's flow with ease.

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  3. And so it is really isn't it? What one river is to one is a nightmare of all proportions to another whose home or land is being flooded by a swollen river which bursts its banks.
    Great aspects of it seen from several different view points.
    Nice write Hank!

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  4. there is much mystery below the surface of the river you know...smiles....def like all the various perspectives you evoke hank...

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  5. Great xontrast pf the river in its destructive as well as generative aspect, its easy to forget this equally as important function . Thanks

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  6. Oh I'll still take the river..

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  7. The Blind Men and The Elephant is one of my favorite parables ... glad you used it this week, Hank.

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  8. It is interesting to think how a blind person would perceive a river. Seems the river men got beyond the elephant men. And surely it applies to so much--perspective. Thanks for the post.

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  9. Just beyond the river bend
    Desolation
    When will man learn?

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  10. Thanks for linking to Poetry Jam. I always enjoyed the story of the Blind Men and the Elephant, and I really appreciated YOUR version...including the river.

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  11. I also love the story of the Blind Men and the Elephant. Your version with the river is much like a river itself, able to sweep us away in thought contemplating the depths. Thanks for linking up over at Poetry Jam!

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  12. Great job in pointing out the many facets and aspects to reflect upon.

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  14. I'm all for a little philosophical musing! :)

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  15. Enjoyed all the different images of the river gained through psychic vision.

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  16. I can't help thinking - elephants need to drink thirty gallons of water a day... Wouldn't a river come in handy? LOL

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  17. They really see so much more than the seeing. Excellent work!

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  18. As many rivers as there are eyes to see and minds to imagine....just wonderful!!!!!!!!!

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