My Soul Has Grown Deep Like Rivers

From the rain was I cast

Pushing down into soft ground

Fresh I was joined

To the stream of life

As I flow onwards

We swirl together

Through storms

Maelstroms of marvel

I crash on heavy river banks

Over waterfalls

I am stronger now

I grow wider and deeper

Memories like pebbles

Roll freely on my bottom

I am relentless

Pushing on to my sea

To the ocean

I am a mighty river

My soul deepens

My waters are muddied

As I crash through the beaches

The forests and canyons

Won’t you ride the storm with me

As I join

The great blue sea

Inspired by:

The Negro Speaks Of Rivers

I've known rivers:

I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the

flow of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.

I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.

I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.

I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln

went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy

bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I've known rivers:

Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

Langston Hughes