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 the people to bathe in me, especially women.
But I can drown the fools
Who bathe too close to the weir, contrary to 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,
O I may be an old foul river but I have plenty of go.
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.
Oh 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.
Summary of The River God
- Popularity of “The River God”: “The River God” by Florence Margaret Smith aka Stevie Smith, a popular British novelist, and poet, is an interesting poetic piece about nature. The poem first appeared in 1950 after the poet found herself mesmerized by the river Mimram. The unique quality that has made this poem popular among children and adults alike is the presentation of the feminine and seductive quality of nature that could prove destructive if not followed properly.
- “The River God” As a Representative of Nature and Its Seductive Quality: The monologue opens with the river speaking to the audiences or readers saying that despite his shortcomings, he loves the women to bathe in it but if people do not follow rules, he can drown them. However, it is unclear why the river has drowned the old lady, though, he calls all others fools. Staying quizzical about the lady and where she lies, the river states that though people could call him foolish “old smelly river,” yet he loves to have that lady in his bed and would not forgive her if she leaves without his permission. Written in the first person, the river presents the seductive quality of nature that attracts men and if they do not follow the rules of nature, they may face the wrath of nature.
- Major Themes in “The River God”: Love for nature, destructive power of nature, and natural beauty are three major themes. The poem depicts the theme of the love of nature as the people, especially, women, throng to bathe in the river. However, the river drowns the fools who do not follow his rule. The drowning of the old woman is the demonstration of the destructive power of nature. Yet, it is not clear whether the old woman has followed his rules or not as the river claims that he would not release her or else he would not forgive her in case she leaves without his permission. The dramatic monologue also demonstrates that the beauty of nature always seduces human beings.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “The River God”
literary devices are literary tools essential for poetic or prose writing to make the text beautiful and worth reading. The analysis of these devices in “The River God” as given below shows this fact.
- Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line such as the sound of /e/ in “I may be smelly, and I may be old”, /i/ in “But where my fish float by I bless their swimming” and the sound of /o/ in “O I may be an old foul river but I have plenty of go.”
- Alliteration: It is the use of successive consonant sounds in the initials of the successive words such as /w/ in “who would” and /f/ in “fish float.”
- Anadiplosis: It means to repeat the last words of the same or preceding clauses such as this poem shows “Oh will she stay with me will she say.” Here the poet has repeated “will she stay…” by the end of both clauses.
- Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line such as the sound of /r/, /m/ and /p/ in “Rough in my pebbles, reedy in my pools” and /d/ in She lies in my beautiful deep river bed with many a weed.”
- Enjambment: It is defined as a thought in verse that does not come to an end at a line break; rather, it rolls over to the next line. For example;
She lies in my beautiful deep river bed with many a weed
To hold her, and many a waving reed.
- Euphemism: The poem shows the use of euphemism as the river says that he has “brought her down” instead of killing the old woman.
- Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. The poem shows the use of imagery such as “But they do not know of my wide original bed”, “Where the lady waits, with her golden sleepy head” and “She bathed in me by the tall black cliff where the water runs cold.”
- Metaphor: It is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between the objects that are different. The poem has used the metaphor of the river to show how nature could be loving as well as destructive.
- Personification: The poet has used the river as if it has life and emotions of its own.
- Rhetorical Question: Rhetorical question is a question that is not asked to receive an answer; it is just posed to make the point clear. The poem shows the use of a rhetorical question such as;
Oh will she stay with me will she stay
This beautiful lady, or will she go away?
- Symbolism: Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from literal meanings. The poem has used the river as a symbol of the power of nature.
- Tone: The river shows a condescending and mocking tone as the words “clowning” and “contrary to rules” show, while it shows a loving tone such as the words “my beautiful dear” show.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “The River God”
Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is the analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem does not follow any specific rhyme scheme but at some places, it seems that it follows a rhyme scheme such as fools and rules, drowning and clowning, flow and go, bold and cold, and then here and dear.
- Repetition: The poem shows the use of repetition such as of “will she stay…” and “old, smelly and river” to stress upon the idea of nature being present in pre-human period.
Quotes to be Used
These lines from “The River God” are relevant to use when talking about the loving aspect of nature.
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.
