Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

David Mungoshi

THIS RIVER

THIS RIVER

THIS RIVER

No one drinks here
No one walks here
No beaten paths lead here

This river is a serene hideaway
For tiger, bream and bass
If you’re lucky
You might just see the kingfishers at work

Here the grass is greener
The foliage is thicker
The shade is cooler
And the water is ice-cold
You can refrigerate your cans here

In this river
The ripples are huge
The fish are jumping
The crabs are crawling
And the rapids are roaring

In this river
The hippos yawn above the waterfall
Whose spray hits far and wide
Touching your skin like a blessing
And little birds groom their balloon bodies

Come over little one
The frogs are hopping
As slithering snakes slide away
Into silent ponds and lagoons

The river is a haven
Dream what you will
And it shall flow into your cupped palms.
Close

THIS RIVER

No one drinks here
No one walks here
No beaten paths lead here

This river is a serene hideaway
For tiger, bream and bass
If you’re lucky
You might just see the kingfishers at work

Here the grass is greener
The foliage is thicker
The shade is cooler
And the water is ice-cold
You can refrigerate your cans here

In this river
The ripples are huge
The fish are jumping
The crabs are crawling
And the rapids are roaring

In this river
The hippos yawn above the waterfall
Whose spray hits far and wide
Touching your skin like a blessing
And little birds groom their balloon bodies

Come over little one
The frogs are hopping
As slithering snakes slide away
Into silent ponds and lagoons

The river is a haven
Dream what you will
And it shall flow into your cupped palms.

THIS RIVER

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