This is my post for the May 31st, Poetry Thursday prompt: “River”.
This is a photo of the middle Clackamas River. For a sense of scale, if you look closely, you will see two white water rafts coming between the rocks. There are a few more photos of the Clackamas at the bottom of this post.
Author’s note: Not far from my home in Oregon flows the Clackamas river. It falls from the Cascade Mountains down the westward slope of Mt. Hood, through a gorgeous rugged canyon. It is a young, geologically speaking, and powerful river. Cold, pure, drinkable water – alive with native trout. My son Justin rafts its whitewater rapids, and I fly-fish these waters. Every trip into this captivating wilderness frees my soul, touches my heart, and ignites my sense of wonder. This magnificent natural paradise is the inspiration for “Transformed”.
___________________________
Transformed
•
Gazing up this magnificent canyon,
cut by time and current in the great rock of the earth,
I marvel at the power, the beauty — at the determination
of the mighty river sculpting this majestic work,
tumbling timelessly in crystal clarity
over boulder and falls,
ever onward in resounding resolve.
I listen, captivated by the song of the wind
as it plays the boughs of the towering pines;
soaring down the lofty climbs,
brushing gently my face, tossing my hair,
dancing past me round a bend.
I am transformed!
In this moment, preciously temporal,
I am thankful to know eternal joy!
…
________________________________
Transformed
(minimal)
•
I gaze up the canyon,
cut by time and current in the great rock of the earth.
I marvel at the power, the beauty — at the determination
of the mighty river that sculpts this majestic work.
It tumbles in timeless clarity
over boulder and falls,
in onward resolve.
I’m captivated by the wind song,
that plays the boughs of the towering pines.
It soars down the lofty climbs,
brushes my face gently, tosses my hair,
and dances past me round a bend.
I am transformed…
thankful to know this eternal joy!
…
To hear poem read by author, click here
Photo above shows an excellent trout pool on the lower Clackamas River.
Photos above shows rafters enjoying some of the tamer white water on the Upper Clackamas River. There are from Class I to Class V rapids on the river.
Rob Kistner © 2007
This brings tears to my eyes, as only poetry akin to the flow of wind or of water ever could… Bless you.
Soulless –
Thank you!
I go to this magical place often. It is one of my five favorite places to go near my home to have the fire in my soul rekindled.
What a wonderful place that looks! I enjoyed your poems too, especially the minimalist form.
I too was transformed reading this. Beautiful pictures too. I loved the minimalist version. Thanks.
Juliet –
Thank you!
Yes, these are recent pictures of my paradise on earth, and the words from my soul to describe it.
Gautami –
Thank you!
This place for me is heaven.
I could both hear the wind song swooshing through the pines – the sound and the sight in my mind’s eye gave me goose bumps.
In this moment, preciously temporal,
I am thankful to know eternal joy!
What wonderful words, and I also loved ‘onward resolve’. You live in such a beautiful place. Those of us who live near to nature have the opportunity to live in the moment in a way that urban dwellers must search much harder to achieve.
“In this moment, preciously temporal,
I am thankful to know eternal joy!”
How well you’ve captured this idea!
Majesty is the word! I loved this. Thank you
Hi Rob.
Gives me shivers to see and hear such beauty. Thank you for sharing your special place with us.
Rose
xo
Such beautiful pictures do inspire words of awe…Thanks for sharing!
Oh, this was wonderful! The pictures, your poetry, you reading… and wow- I went rafting in Alaska but that one set of rapids looks scary! The power of the river!
Strauss –
Thank you!
Every time I have the good fortune to wander into this magical part of earth it is goose bumps unending.
This place, like so many I have discovered in my 18 years here in Oregon, really stir and ignite my spirit.
Pip –
You are most kind!
The concrete and creation of cities can certainly amaze — but they do not fire the heart, nor strike with the sublime awe of nature.
I’ve never found my soul in the human constructs of church — but a sojourn into the Oregon back country always puts me deeply present with it.
Pauline –
I am so glad this resonated with you! 🙂
This place is one to which I go to find my bliss. I’ve made a humble effort to share it in this post.
This is why I’m moving into the mountains 🙂 It is magical! Beautiful poetry and you must do one on the artistic dance of fly fishing.
GL –
Thank you!
Rivers are majestic, magnificent, magical — marvelous!
Loved this whole post–almost as good as being there!
Rose –
Thank you!
It is my pleasure to share this bit of Eden. I believe if everyone could find their bit of Eden on this planet — it would be a better place, filled with a more peaceful lucid people.
Certainly not to play down the crime and violence — but I firmly believe that one reason human beings, trapped in cities, have such a struggle is they are separated from true nature, their true nature.
We are all a part of it, and need to commune with it — or we go cold, brittle, and simply crazy.
We all need to be mindful that we are part of the balance of nature. That balance is seriously disturbed right now.
Maybe this hopeful little post of mine will serve as a reminder to find nature again to anyone who may have lost their touch with it.
Twitches –
You’re welcome!
I love your moniker — Twitches. 🙂
Rob:
How your images make me miss those Northwest Rivers of my childhood!
And your poem, it takes on a Whitmanesque exuberance, such the right celebratory intonation before this river.
“ever onward in resounding resolve” round and echo-y like a canyon. Very nice.
Sometimes less is more… and sometimes it’s just different. Both of these were beautiful in their own right because one captured the essential details of the river and transported me there; the other captured the transformative power the river had for you. I liked both, and the pictures, well–I live in the Northwest, too, and there’s no other place like it on earth.
Fantastic poems and photos. Makes me long to get out of the city for a while.
Regina –
Thank you!
I fly fish this wonderful river — I leave the white water rafting to my wife (she’s 16 years my junior), my strapping son, and his fiancé. I’m afraid we’d need a medic to get me out of the river. 🙂
Tammy –
Thank you!
I love the mountains, they’re wonderful — that’s why we live in the Cascade Mountain foothills.
But then, so do I love the cliffs and beaches of the Pacific Ocean coast, the Columbia Gorge, the Yamhill wine country, the Willamette Valley, the old growth forests — I just love living in the Pacific Northwest.
I love the golf courses too. Most of all, I love my wife! 🙂
What the heck was that outburst about?
Pepek –
Thank you!
Glad I was able to transport — even if but for a moment. That was my intention.
Jim –
Pleased to have taken you back, even if for a bit.
“…the naked meat of the body, the circling rivers, the breath, and breathing it in and out…”
Should I but dare to ascend to Walt’s plateau… but I took guilty pleasure in the allusion – thank you. 😉
Sputnik –
I appreciate your kind words!
“Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker…” …see, I’m still singing. 😉
Chickle’s
Glad you liked… thank you!
It wasn’t until my 41st year that I finally made it to the Pacific Northwest — but these 19 years since my arrival have been heavenly. I wish I’d been born here. I wasted a lot of time finding my way.
Tara –
I am most grateful for your praise!
If I nudged you to get out into the countryside, away for the city for a while — then my work is done! 😉
I always enjoy your poetry Rob, and this is clearly a place close to your heart and soul. I’m with you on we humans needing to be close to nature, or we lose our way. Beautiful pictures. Thanks.
Patti –
I am glad you enjoy my poetry!
It shows, huh? 😉
Yes, the Clackamas River canyon resonates strongly with me. It makes me humble when I’m feeling puffed up, and it fills me when I’m feeling empty. It always makes me feel alive, anchored, and grateful.
Everyone needs a place in nature to find this rejuvenation. Humans, no more or less than any other animal, wither if nature is withheld.
Thank you for your visits!
So beautiful, Rob! Your photos and your words bring to life the water, wind, wild nature, and that wonderful joy and transformation. I’ve always wanted to go white water rafting.
That looks like a beautiful, beautiful river, and your poem expresses a wonderful moment.
Clare –
Here you are again! I’m pleased you visit.
I glad this resonated for you. Thank you for your kind words.
As I wrote to Regina Clare Jane above — I now leave the white water rafting to my young wife and my son. They love it. So would you.
Like Nike says — just do it! 😉
Catherine –
You are most gracious!
It is a beauty we humans cannot replicate — but we can most certainly appreciate and enjoy.
I love this photograph! My fiance’s brother worked at Mt Hood (now is in Tahoe) and it is gorgeous there. To live there! Oh! Lovely.
Molly –
Pleased you liked the photo.
It is a bit of heaven here… 😉
Thank you for visiting!