The River Goddess

Summary

The web content is a piece of free verse poetry titled "The River Goddess" by Lori Carlson, which is part of a continuous poem chain initiated by Martin Rushton, with a focus on the theme of "Enchantress."

Abstract

"The River Goddess" is a poem that captures the ethereal and enchanting presence of a goddess emerging from a river. Bathed in moonlight, she is depicted as a timeless beauty with secrets hidden in the swampy waters. The poem is an homage to the goddess, expressing wonder and reverence for her ancient allure, which has the power to lure the speaker from their hiding place to pay tribute. This work is a contribution to a collaborative poetic project started by Martin Rushton, where each poet adds to the "never-ending poem" with their unique verse, using prompts provided by the preceding contributor. Lori Carlson was prompted by NaNa's world with the theme "Enchantress" and has invited five other poets to continue the chain with the new prompt "Bounty." The poem is a celebration of the poetic tradition and the collective creativity of the Medium community.

Opinions

The author, Lori Carlson, expresses a deep sense of awe and admiration for the river goddess, who embodies the theme of "Enchantress."
The poem conveys a sense of mystery and reverence for the natural world, particularly the river and its surroundings, which are personified through the goddess.
There is a communal aspect to the poem, as it is part of a larger collaborative project that celebrates the continuity and interconnectedness of poetic expression.
The author acknowledges the influence of previous contributors to the poem chain, notably Martin Rushton and NaNa's world, and extends the creative process by inviting new poets to participate.
The poem implicitly values the traditions of tagging and linking back in the writing community on Medium, fostering a sense of literary kinship and shared endeavor.

Free Verse Poetry — the never-ending poem

You ascend from the river bathed in silvery moonlight wet strands cling to breasts black moss tattoos your curves

I rub my eyes — unsure if you are real Cloaked in darkness, I stare in awe of your ancient beauty

How many lives have you enchanted with your dancing moonstone eyes and gentle, gliding grace?

What secrets do you hold buried in these swampy waters never to be whispered?

As you lounge upon the riverbed night creatures greet you paying homage to their goddess I too am lured by you

I leave my shadowy haven venture out from the thickets and kneel down at your feet My enchantress, I am yours

This is a continuation of Martin Rushton’s never-ending poem chain. I was tagged by NaNa'sworld with the prompt: Enchantress. I invite Melissa Coffey, I. M. Dust, Amy Marley, James G Brennan, and Gordon McFarland to participate if they so choose — haiku, free verse, or other poetic form. Your prompt is Bounty.

Note: You can post your poem on any publications that allow it, but please tag and link back to Martin’s original poem and to me. Thank you!

Martin’s spark:

Nana’sworld’s poem:

Lori Carlson writes poetry, fiction, articles and personal essays. Most of her topics are centered around Relationships, Spirituality, Life Lessons, Mental Health, and the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to writing for Illumination, Lori also writes for nineteen other publications here on Medium. Check out her personal Medium blog here.

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