What is the background of this poem?
- The river is a physical feature in a landscape. It is an important part of nature especially in stabilizing the ecosystem.
- Its role is both positive and negative. It is in this aspect that the river is depicted as having many characteristics.
- It flows from the mountains, meanders through the hills, valleys, and ends in the sea. As the river flows downstream, it erodes the riverbed and earth’s soil as described by the poet in Stanza 3. These are then buried deep down by the river as ‘little treasures’.
- In Stanzas 4 and 5, the river shows its gentleness and happiness by the sounds that it makes. These are described as a baby’s ‘gurgles and hums’ and ‘sucking his thumbs’.
- The river is called ‘a singer’ who sings a happy tune while dancing along.
- Finally, in Stanza 6, the river shows its ugly and destructive side as a monster who not only ‘gobbles up trees’ but will ‘swallow you next’ if you are not careful.
