23 July 2023

By Philip Kuepper

Henley-on-Thames
makes smooth alliteration;
regatta staccato;
a river at glide;
a river at chop,
rowers read,
and oar, accordingly.
Sounds of words and names
help a rower attain
rhythm,
the rhythmic movement
of muscles to oars,
that cause each stroke
move the boat
to the rower’s will,
but, also, to the river’s will,
rhythm, rhythmic,
of two wills,
to get the boat rowed,
so long as the rower reads
the river’s will.

(8 July 2023)