Celebrating World Poetry Day with Rob Macfarlane’s ‘Riversong’
Celebrating World Poetry Day with Rob Macfarlane’s ‘Riversong’
On World Poetry Day, we’re celebrating the power of verse to inspire, move, and mobilise, and what better way than with Rob Macfarlane’s stirring poem ‘Riversong’. This evocative piece, created in collaboration with artist Nick Hayes, is more than just a poem – it’s a call to arms for river protection, capturing both the beauty of our waterways and the tragic reality of their decline.
A Poem That Speaks for Our Rivers
‘Riversong’ flows with lyrical beauty, painting vivid images of rivers in their natural glory, rising from source, tumbling as falls, and winding their way to the sea. Yet, the tone darkens as it reflects on the devastating impact of human greed:
“But they gave the orders, and turned the waters / To sink and sump, stink and dump, from hill to sea;
Suits and boardrooms made ghosts of gods, / Turned River’s songs to elegies.”
With these haunting lines, Macfarlane masterfully channels the outrage at private water companies and against pollution and exploitation, transforming the river’s voice into a lament for what has been lost. But it’s also a poem of hope and resistance, urging us to gather, rise, and restore our rivers:
“So gather the waters, sons and daughters, / Braid the currents and weave the flows,
Let River shiver you from skin to bone — / For River’s song is the song of songs, And River’s will is stronger than stone.”
From Page to Protest: ‘Riversong’ at the March for Clean Waters
‘Riversong’ is more than just words on a page, it became a rallying cry during the March for Clean Waters 2024. As thousands of passionate activists, river guardians, and environmental advocates gathered, the poem was performed live, its powerful verses echoing through the crowd. The reading added a poignant and unifying voice to the demonstration, urging collective action against river pollution.
Poetry as Protest
Poetry has long been a tool for social and environmental change, and ‘Riversong’ is a shining example of how art can inspire activism. It reminds us that our rivers, once vibrant and free-flowing, are now too often choked by pollution and neglect. Yet, through creativity, unity, and defiance, we can give them their song back.
Together, we can turn elegies into anthems for action.
