The River Poem by Philip Geoffrey Lock

Snow melts on a mountain top
Midday sun its burning hue
Takes some years to scar a soul
Calloused brands of shame imbued

Dams crack wide 'fore rushing swell
Cascade falls of myriad light
Takes some time to turn a course
False roads vain set life aright

Rivers meet, enlivened crowd
Meander paths of broken bank
Takes many schemes, now but naught
To reveal my dungeon dank

Floods crash in with ne'er a word
Unrelenting allegory
Takes some broken pride to see
Grace alone can set me free

Waters smother parched dry land
Hope of life in power hid
Takes some faith to live love's joy
But to freedom I am bid