The River of No Agenda

by Stephen W. Smith

This poem is a joint venture with my wife, Gwen. During Covid, we found a mountain river in southwest Virginia that became a secret haven for us. There we would both hike and bike along the shore of New River. The more we went to this old river (I’ve learned that this particular river is the second oldest river in the world, according to scientists.), the more inspired we both became. Gwen started painting and I started writing poetry.

I wrote this poem there by the banks of that old river. Gwen painted this lovely scene to accompany this poem.

Poetry for me is not coded for only the elite to understand. It is a portal into the souls of humanity. As you read this poem, you’ll be invited to “flow” in my own way of sharing my heart but in fewer words. This is my aim. This is my intent.

I’d love to read your reactions. What did this stir in you? What does this mean for you? I’m sharing this first poem to everyone. Future poems will be available for paid subscribers/donors. Why? Because for me, my poems are so personal and it’s a stretch for me to share this with any one at all, to be honest. I guess I’m thinking, if you really want to make the effort to subscribe, then I”ll consider it my invitation to keep excavating my heart in this way. Thanks for understanding.

---

The River of No Agenda

by Stephen W Smith

Inside my chest is stored many agendas.

What should I do? Who shall I become? Who needs my help?

I have driven my life by navigating these questions.

Here, sitting by this river, I feel the tiredness of it all.


I came to this place to be alone.

Yet, uninvited companions are somehow here nagging at me.

These old friends whisper their agendas for me.

Fix this! Repair that! Start something new.


They never seem to shut up with their litany of possibilities.

I could remain very busy with these long lists of shoulds and coulds.

Now, another more generous invitation is calling me.

Here, the river is just going by me. It simply flows.


Everything flows. Nothing is impeded. Not even my heart.

The river reminds me that I am close to this flow.

This wet, moist, life-giving freedom is what I want.

I will join this water soon.


Together, we all will be baptized into the river of no agendas.




Copyright 2023. Stephen W. Smith