Category Archives: river life

2024, Ohio River Valley Literature, prose, river life, Working Class Literature

from ‘the river north to South Point’ [And the congregation pushes on…]

11.03.24.1521 hrs

2nd cup of Coffee. 2 hrs 39 minutes until watch.

Standing on the back of the Broaddus, starboard, eating a bowl of Mate Matt Kemp’s made from scratch biscuits and gravy — the biscuit broken into pieces, the way a civilized person eats. We’re rolling northeast. The landscape  is hilly; we’re in the bottom of the Appalachian foothills. The sun is burning the last of the overnight chill out of my bones. The hum of the tug G Walker’s engines play in time with the sounds of our wake in a light breeze.

I know I am not one of the lords of the earth; but I am a happy river pebble being pushed along. These divine moments of peace are part of what makes this life the best I have ever lived.

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2024, Ohio River Valley Literature, poetry, river life

from ‘the river north to South Point’ 2nd poem

Pushing upriver into the second night
through a growing crowd of fog
lights of towns, power plants, pumping stations
the remains of smaller boats
all whispering as we pass
one more member of the congregation
on the way to redemption

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2024, Ohio River Valley Literature, poetry, river life, work

from ‘the river north to South Point’

sunset Madison Hill
moving northbound
the river unfurling into forever

by Carrollton it will be night
guided by that great snake Caseopia
and shooting stars

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