Lavender

Jan 23, 2025 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

The River's Run Dry

awaken the lady
wake up the lad
the housemaid
the nephew
the dear granddad

run to the river
down past the briar
fly with a bucket
the house is afire

the table, the chair
the bed and its frame
the dresser and mirror
have all gone aflame

the candle which sat
on the edge of the rail
tipped over and splattered
when Dog caught his tail

under the rocker
there on the porch
it only took seconds
to spread like a torch

cry out to the neighbors
a bloodcurdling scream
now run past the briar
down to the stream

the river's run dry
to us, unbeknown
and Dog is in hiding
with his grizzly, gnawed bone

farewell, poor lady
fare-thee-well, poor lad
the housemaid
the nephew
and dear, poor granddad

About This Poem

Last Few Words: This is not about a house burning, but perhaps a community, a nation, a world of people struggling in life with little hope, and very few resources for help.

Style/Type: Structured: Western

Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back

Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft

About the Author

Country/Region: United States

Favorite Poets: I tend to read Ted Kooser, Jim Harrison, Billy Collins, Paul Simon, Robert Frost. I like minimalist poetry, and poems reflecting on nature and Mother Earth.

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Comments

Geezer

5 months 2 weeks ago

I can see...

the metaphorical likeness of the burning house and our country, but only after you have explained it. I'm not sure how to fix that. Nice poem though, I would have been satisfied with the burning of the house, and the development of a parable.
~ Geez.
.

Lavender

5 months 2 weeks ago

Hello, Geezer,

The poem definitely took on a more universal feeling for me as I wrote it, but I think I'm okay with its initial interpretation, too. I may just leave it with more than one understanding. Thank you for your thoughts with this!
L

Ruby Lord

5 months 2 weeks ago

Hi Lavender, after watching

Hi Lavender, after watching that thing openly give a Nazi salute I can see where hope is lost. Not only in his actions but in the way some of the media claimed he didn't do what he clearly did. And with him having a government post it looks from here like your world is on fire. I am so sorry to see this happening all over again.
Your poem definitely works on that level for me. I felt sick all day after seeing him do that.
Take care, Ruby xx

Lavender

5 months 2 weeks ago

Hello, Ruby,

I am truly lost with what is taking place. That incident you described along with the words, "Drill, Baby, Drill" spoken so recklessly and greeted with such wild cheer and abandonment have broken my heart. (More) Greed and power for a few - loss of hope and suffering for most.
Much love,
Lx

"Love over fear, love over fear, love over fear..."

Ruby Lord

5 months 2 weeks ago

My son sent me an article a

My son sent me an article a few months ago. It was on The Fermi Paradox. This explains why we will never see alien lifeforms as a result of our reliance on fossil fuels. We get through the industrial age. We get smarter and we use more fossil fuels until they are depleted. At that point we are looking at extinction as we haven't resolved the issue with climate change.
Sorry to be on such a downer but this is the future. And is further backed up by the The Great Filter Hypothesis.
But this doesn't matter to them, their only god is money in Musk's case and being transactional in terms of money in Trumps case.

Lavender

5 months 2 weeks ago

Hi, Ruby,

I'll look for those references. You are not a downer - the past few days have been terribly hard. Usually I can find hope, and I'm sure I will again, somewhere. But the love for money and power is disgustingly overwhelming right now. How can this be happening? This cannot be real...
L

Ruby Lord

5 months 2 weeks ago

Thank you Lavender, I really

Thank you Lavender, I really felt sick all day after I saw their performances. It's as if people across the world have lost their minds and believe these idiots are going to make things better? I will tell you to take care, especially now with these changes, I fear for the American people. Ruby xx

Lavender

5 months 2 weeks ago

Thank you, Ruby,

The mantra "love over fear" remains with me always. Praying for our country, the entire world, and our beautiful Mother Earth.
Lx

Ray Miller

5 months 2 weeks ago

The River's Run Dry

I think the time is not very far away when poems, novels, essays, articles openly referring to climate change will go the way of environmental regulations. They will be suppressed, vanish, and dissent will of necessity be expressed in poems like yours. So well done you, you're ahead of the field.

Lavender

5 months 2 weeks ago

Hello, Ray,

The written word regarding our welfare silenced?! How I hope that will never come. I fear the instant gossip and thoughtless messages on social media will be the norm and even more valued. I always appreciate your reading and sharing your thoughts. Thank you so much,
L

Rula

5 months 1 week ago

Dearest Lavender

Thank you for sharing this one.
The last few words help to understand your poem the way you wanted it to be read.
Anyway this is read with a great message and is relatable in many ways..
The opening and ending are so creative (imo) and you know I like it so much.
Much appreciate it.

Lavender

5 months 1 week ago

Hello, Rula,

As you know, our world is in such a state. In great need of more hope and goodwill from all of us, along with the literal resources to help one another.
I thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts.
Lxxx