Writing the River

‘…the river still chattered on…a babbling procession of the best stories in the world, sent from the heart of the earth to be told at last to the insatiable sea.’

From The Wind in the Willows

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Off the back of the publication of The River Days of Rosie Crow, I was invited to Aylsham Library in North Norfolk for three consecutive weeks of facilitating river writing workshops. The library is only about a 15 minute walk from the River Bure (the Mermaid in my novel is a 6 km tributary of the Bure) which meant that we were lucky enough to hold the first half of the second workshop down at the river.

Alongside a wonderful group of women, we explored our associations past and present with rivers, as well as asking questions of the river and doing some deep listening in response to see see if the river wanted to pass on any of its wisdom. I love the words of children’s author Ruth Krauss: ‘Everyone should be quiet near a little stream and listen.’ How often do we really sit on the banks of a river, undistracted by our phones, and really listen? I wanted to create this opportunity for those taking part in the workshop.

Nearly everyone tends to have a connection of some kind with rivers, either from growing up or their present lives. We know all too well that so many of the rivers in the UK are polluted (according to the Rivers Trust, 0% of all rivers in England and Northern Ireland are classed as ‘good overall’), and it feels like an important time to be using the arts, writing included, to draw awareness to the beauty and plight of rivers, especially this rare chalk river habitat we’re privileged to have here in Norfolk.

‘If we call to River as a sentient being, will we receive an answer?’ Peter Reason, author, academic + environmental activist

The River Bure, where we spent part of the second session

The quality of the writing was so high and I absolutely loved hearing the poetry and prose that came out of the three sessions. Summer and Sarah have given me their permission to share their wonderful writing.

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Summer Gold

River, what does it feel like when you reach the sea?

Is this it? this place of mythical quality
Hiding behind a shroud of mist
I feel my being flowing in an unknown way
All around me, I am held, a strong presence

This is it, the place that was a mystery
It does exist, a place beyond words
Beyond feelings, this presence
Is the sea, a place beyond land, beyond conformity

Its depths are hidden, yet I am a part of this
I flow and mingle, into eternity
Will it never end, there are no banks
All I ever knew has gone beyond

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Sarah Smith

Where are you going? The River’s Answer

You force me into a channel

When I want to meander.

I am driven by gravity

Until I find a lull.

Then I hear liquid birdsong

Bright and clear on the air.

Midges make a moment

To wind mysterious patterns,

Joined by whirling waterboatmen.

 Pause and listen with me:

The lonely hoot of a train

Echoed by honking geese.

Now see bees in the trees,

Leaves shivering in the breeze.

First swifts of the season

Circling the skies

Driven too by their pursuit

Of food, following my course.

For I am the life-giver

If you let me be free.

I am going back to

Where I came from,

You and me.

My destiny is the sea.

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With gratitude to Aylsham Library for hosting me for these sessions.

Thank you for reading this blog post. Compliment it with listening to my interview with Future Radio about inspiration behind The River Days of Rosie Crow & reading a short excerpt from the book with New Writing Out Loud.