HP Rivers

  • Grief

    Is not an energy That can be cleared With sage Or good intentions. It demands To be felt fully, Because after all – It only grows In the void Where love Once flourished, And love’s wounds Run soul-deep.

    HP Rivers

  • A Pandemic Season

    This chapbook includes all of the poems that I wrote from August – November 2020 and was compiled for my Illness, Healing, and Health class at Starr King. You can see the full book, which includes 24 poems and a brief introduction at the link below. Feedback is absolutely cherished. You can reach me by…

    HP Rivers

  • A Prayer for Election Week

    Goddess, Spirit, God,Love of many names,of no names,and of names too intimate to speak –grant us comfort,for we are all living with fear. Yes, all of us –those who whimper,those who hyperventilate,those who disengage,those whose anger and vitriolbetray the terrorlurking beneath our confidence. May we all rest. May we surrenderto the beauty of our dreams,to…

    HP Rivers

  • Midway

    Alternate Title: Leave Room for Jesus 2005 At the Midway Middle School Spring FormalPre-pubescent girls wear white t-shirtsUnder their sparkly dresses –Their preachers,And their mothers,Afraid that someone might think them immodest. The bus driverPulls over to yell and prayEvery time someone says, “goddamn” –And scolds meFor sitting next to a high school boy. I do…

    HP Rivers

  • Soul Chatter

    Dancing on a moonbeam, They ask,“What if we go to Earth next?” They scoff.“I’ve never known ofA more toxic planet.” “I’ve heard of two,” they reply.“And besides, they have Love there.” “What,” they asked,An immortal soul bewildered, “is that?” “It’s this,” they say,Gesturing to all of the Universe.“But you feel it.” “What is feeling?That sounds…

    HP Rivers

  • Shamxn

    Come listen to the big drumsThe heartbeatsOf the cosmos, praying you to liveWeary as you might be. Dear one,This healing is your heartbeatThe prayers you bless the world with,Bless yourself in the process. There are no ancestors cheering for you. Rather, they weepTears of wisdom,Knowledge of the path to comeFor they have walked it too,But…

    HP Rivers

  • The Bird

    I anoint a dead bird with holy waterfrom the memorial garden at the church where I grew up.Weightless as it is lifeless, it knows not that I drape it with flowersAnd say a prayer. I light a candle,and beseech its spirit to bless other realms with its flight,Continuing to and transcending its Highest Good. Yellow…

    HP Rivers