The poem is written as one long continuous stanza, with several interwoven ideas. Like Duke of Ferrara in Robert Browning’s My Last Duchess, the speaker’s evil nature is gradually revealed. The themes are the power of nature and the power of love.įorm and Structure: Dramatic Monologue. Themes: The poem is about a murderous River God, who drowns a woman he desires. See also Stevie Smith’s bio on the author page. The poem was inspired by the River Mimram in Hertfordshire ( AQA). “The River God” may symbolise Death, Nature, the relationship between men and women, especially possessiveness. “The River God” (1950) is haunting, dreamlike, strange and open to interpretation.

If she wishes to go I will not forgive her. 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. There is no one on earth who does not forget her Now. 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. 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. 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.

Hi yih, yippity-yap, merrily I flow, O I may be an old foul river but I have plenty of go. And they take their time drowning As I throw them up now and then in a spirit of clowning. But I can drown the fools Who bathe too close to the weir, contrary to rules. 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.

The river god series