“The River Runs Red” by Yue Fei [w/ Audio]

Enraged, I lean on the rail as rain ceases.
I look skyward, and sigh -- then roar.
My grand legacy has crumbled to dust:
A journey of thirty years and 8,000 li.

Young men, don't let regret come with gray hair!
The shame of Jingkang lingers -- a foul taste
We Generals must wash from our mouths.
Let's charge our chariots through Helan Pass
To feast on the flesh of our foes & drink their blood.
 Only then can we return home with honor.

In Chinese, the poem is entitled 滿江紅 (Man Jiang Hong,) “The Whole River, Red”:

怒髮衝冠,憑欄處,瀟瀟雨歇。
抬望眼,仰天長嘯,壯懷激烈。
三十功名塵與土,八千里路雲和月。
莫等閒白了少年頭,空悲切。
靖康恥,猶未雪;
臣子恨,何時滅?
駕長車踏破賀蘭山缺!
壯志飢餐胡虜肉,笑談渴飲匈奴血。
待從頭收拾舊山河,朝天闕。

Future River [Haiku]

the river trickles.
but its broad shoulders tell
 of expectations. 

Riverly Staff [Free Verse]

Simplicity.

It flows.
 It crashes.

It employs only
 as much effort as
  conditions dictate.

It does not rush
 in a panic.

While straight,
 its movements seem
  whip-like.

When possible,
 it moves straight,

But it rolls around or over
 any obstacle.

If follows the course,
 but also carves
  the course.

Its movement, inexorable.

“Where Go the Boats?” by Robert Louis Stevenson [w/ Audio]

Dark brown is the river,
 Golden is the sand.
It flows along for ever,
 With trees on either hand.

Green leaves a-floating,
 Castles of the foam,
Boats of mine a-boating --
  Where will all come home?

On goes the river,
 And out past the mill,
Away down the valley,
 Away down the hill.

Away down the river,
 A hundred miles or more,
Other little children
 Shall bring my boats ashore.

Riverbed Reveal [Haiku]

gray day river --
the exposed riverbed
 shows only by tracks

DAILY PHOTO: Views of the Hualien River

Gray Day River [Haiku]

on a gray day,
a mournful river slows
almost to a stop.

River Ripples [Haiku]

ripples march
across the glassy river --
 faced by a reed phalanx.

DAILY PHOTO: Hippos on the Shore

Image

DAILY PHOTO: Chicago River Scenes