The River God
By Stevie Smith
I may be smelly, and I may be old,
Rough in my pebbles, reedy in my pools,
But where my fish float by I bless their swimming
And I like people to bathe in me, especially women.
But I can drown fools
Who bathe too close to the weir, contrary to the rules.
And they take their time drowning
As I throw them up now and then, in a spirit of clowning.
Hi yih, yippity-yap, merrily I flow,
Oh, I may be an old foul river, but I have plenty of flow.
Once there was a lady who was too bold.
She bathed in me by the tall black cliff where the water runs cold,
So I brought her down here to be my beautiful dear.
Oh will she stay with me, will she stay?
This beautiful lady, or will she go away?
She lies in my beautiful deep river bed, with many a weed to hold her, and many a waving reed.
Ah, who would guess what a beautiful white face lies there, waiting for me to smooth and wash away the fear.
She looks at me with. Hi yih, do not let her
Go. There is no one on earth who does not forget her
Now. They say I am a foolish old smelly river
But they do not know of my wide original bed
Where the lady waits, with her golden sleepy head.
If she wishes to go I will not forgive her.
Unveiling “The River God”: A Deep Dive into Stevie Smith’s Poetic Masterpiece
Stevie Smith’s “The River God” stands as a truly unique and compelling work in modern poetry. This article offers a comprehensive guide to understanding this fascinating poem, exploring its narrative, central themes, and the rich tapestry of literary and poetic devices that bring it to life. For anyone seeking a thorough
The River God summary
or an insightful
The River God analysis
, this exploration will illuminate the depths of Smith’s artistry.
Summary of “The River God”
- About the Poem: “The River God” is a captivating dramatic monologue, a poem where a single speaker addresses an implied audience. Here, the speaker is the river itself, personified as an ancient, powerful, and deeply possessive entity. The river recounts its existence, its interactions with humans, and its particular obsession with a woman it has claimed.
- Central Idea: At its core, the poem explores themes of nature’s primal power, desire, and the dark side of possessiveness. The river, far from being a passive landscape feature, emerges as a complex character driven by a profound, almost terrifying, longing for companionship and control over those who enter its domain.
- Noteworthy Aspects: The poem is celebrated for its distinctive, conversational, and often unsettling voice. Smith masterfully blends the mundane with the mythical, creating a speaker who is both earthy and ethereal. The ambiguity surrounding the woman’s fate and the river’s true intentions adds layers of intrigue, making the poem a subject of enduring discussion and interpretation.
In-depth Analysis of “The River God”
Stevie Smith’s “The River God” is a masterclass in poetic craftsmanship, employing a range of
literary devices in The River God
and
poetic devices in The River God
to create its memorable impact. Let us delve into the poem’s intricate layers, examining how these techniques contribute to its profound meaning and unsettling charm.
The Voice of the River: Dramatic Monologue and Personification
The poem’s most striking feature is its use of dramatic monologue, allowing the river to speak directly to the reader. This choice immediately establishes an intimate, albeit unsettling, connection. The river is fully personified, endowed with human thoughts, feelings, and desires, transcending its physical form.
I may be smelly, and I may be old,
Rough in my pebbles, reedy in my pools,
But where my fish float by I bless their swimming
And I like people to bathe in me, especially women.
These opening lines immediately establish the river’s self-awareness and its distinct personality. It acknowledges its less appealing qualities, “smelly, and I may be old,” yet simultaneously expresses a sense of pride and a clear preference for “women” bathing in its waters. This blend of frankness and subtle desire sets the unique tone of the poem: conversational, almost whimsical, yet with an undercurrent of something darker.
The river’s diction, or word choice, is simple and direct, mimicking natural speech. Phrases like “Hi yih, yippity-yap, merrily I flow” contribute to this conversational feel, making the river seem approachable, even playful, despite its sinister capabilities.
The River’s Dual Nature: Power and Possessiveness
The poem masterfully explores the river’s contradictory nature: a life-giver and a life-taker. This duality is conveyed through vivid imagery and stark juxtaposition.
But where my fish float by I bless their swimming
And I like people to bathe in me, especially women.
But I can drown fools
Who bathe too close to the weir, contrary to the rules.
Here, the benevolent image of blessing fish and welcoming bathers is sharply contrasted with the chilling declaration, “But I can drown fools.” This sudden shift reveals the river’s inherent power and its capacity for violence. The casual mention of drowning, followed by the disturbing detail that “they take their time drowning / As I throw them up now and then, in a spirit of clowning,” introduces a profound sense of irony. The river’s playful language masks a truly horrific act, highlighting its detached and cruel nature.
The imagery continues to paint a picture of the river’s environment, appealing to multiple senses: “Rough in my pebbles, reedy in my pools” evokes touch and sight, grounding the river in its physical reality while its voice transcends it.
The Fate of the Lady: Ambiguity and Obsession
A central narrative thread of “The River God” is the river’s obsession with a particular woman. The poem uses euphemism, symbolism, and powerful repetition to convey this possessive desire and the woman’s ambiguous fate.
Once there was a lady who was too bold.
She bathed in me by the tall black cliff where the water runs cold,
So I brought her down here to be my beautiful dear.
The phrase “So I brought her down here” serves as a chilling euphemism for drowning or taking the woman’s life. The river’s subsequent declaration, “to be my beautiful dear,” reveals a twisted affection, blurring the lines between love and captivity. The river itself can be seen as a symbol of primal, untamed nature, and perhaps even the subconscious mind, where desires and memories are held captive. The lady, in turn, might symbolize lost innocence, beauty consumed by a darker force, or a memory that refuses to fade.
The river’s anxiety and possessiveness are powerfully conveyed through repetition and a rhetorical question:
Oh will she stay with me, will she stay?
This beautiful lady, or will she go away?
The repeated “will she stay” emphasizes the river’s desperate hope and its fear of abandonment, despite having seemingly forced her to remain. This obsessive quality is further underscored by the later lines:
There is no one on earth who does not forget her
Now. They say I am a foolish old smelly river
But they do not know of my wide original bed
Where the lady waits, with her golden sleepy head.
If she wishes to go I will not forgive her.
The river believes it is the sole keeper of her memory, reinforcing its possessive grip. The final, stark declaration, “If she wishes to go I will not forgive her,” reveals the depth of its control and its inability to accept any outcome other than her permanent presence.
Crafting the Flow: Sound Devices and Structure
Stevie Smith’s poem, while appearing free-flowing, employs subtle
poetic devices in The River God
to enhance its musicality and rhythm.
- Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds creates a subtle musicality. For example, the long ‘e’ sound in “reedy in my pools” or “deep river bed, with many a weed to hold her, and many a waving reed” creates a lingering, flowing effect, mirroring the river’s movement.
- Consonance: The repetition of consonant sounds, particularly the ‘r’ sound in “Rough in my pebbles, reedy in my pools,” contributes to the poem’s texture and rhythm, evoking the river’s murmuring sounds.
- Enjambment: The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a pause, as seen in “She lies in my beautiful deep river bed, with many a weed to hold her, and many a waving reed,” creates a sense of continuous flow, drawing the reader smoothly through the narrative, much like a river’s current.
- Rhythm and Rhyme: While not strictly adhering to a formal meter or rhyme scheme, the poem uses an irregular rhythm that mimics natural speech, enhancing the conversational tone. Occasional rhymes, such as “old” and “bold,” or “dear” and “fear,” appear unexpectedly, adding a touch of traditional poetic structure without disrupting the river’s unique voice.
Conclusion: The Enduring Allure of “The River God”
“The River God” by Stevie Smith is a poem that continues to captivate and challenge readers with its unique perspective and unsettling narrative. Through masterful personification, vivid imagery, and a carefully crafted voice, Smith invites us into the mind of a powerful, ancient entity driven by a complex blend of benevolence and dark possessiveness. Understanding the intricate
literary devices in The River God
and
poetic devices in The River God
allows for a deeper appreciation of its themes of nature’s power, desire, and the chilling ambiguity of control. This poem remains a testament to the enduring power of language to create unforgettable characters and explore the profound depths of the human, or in this case, the non-human, psyche.