'The Road That Runs Beside The River' by Thomas Lux
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The Streets of Clocks2001follows the river as it bends
along the valley floor,
going the way it must.
Where water goes, so goes the road,
if there's room (not in a ravine,
gorge), the river
on your right or left. Left is better: when you're driving,
it's over your elbow across
the road.
You see the current, which is
what the river
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Road That Runs Beside The River: A Masterpiece of Imagery and Contrast
Thomas Lux's "The Road That Runs Beside The River" is a poem that begs to be analyzed, dissected, and appreciated. At first glance, it appears to be a simple description of a scene – a road running parallel to a river – but upon closer inspection, it reveals itself to be a complex meditation on life, death, and the passage of time.
The Power of Imagery
One of the most striking features of this poem is the power of its imagery. Lux is a master of evocative description, painting vivid pictures in the reader's mind. Consider the opening lines:
The road that runs beside the river is crowded every morning with people on their way to work.
Immediately, we are transported to this busy road, surrounded by other commuters. We can see the river flowing beside us, feel the weight of our briefcases or backpacks, and sense the urgency of the rush hour. The image is so clear, so tangible, that we can almost smell the exhaust fumes and hear the honking of car horns.
Lux continues this trend throughout the poem, using language that appeals to all the senses. The river is "brown and swollen," the trees along the bank are "green and dense," and the sky above is "wide and blue." By grounding his poem in these concrete details, Lux invites us to fully inhabit the scene he is describing.
The Contrast of Life and Death
But "The Road That Runs Beside The River" is not just a pretty picture. It is a poem with a message, and that message is one of contrast. Throughout the poem, Lux juxtaposes images of life and death, growth and decay, youth and old age.
Consider these lines:
The river's sullen, but the morning sun, like a magician, conjures the green out of trees.
Here, we see two opposing forces at work. The river is "sullen," a word that connotes sadness, despair, and perhaps even death. But the morning sun is described as a "magician," a word that suggests vitality, creativity, and life-giving power. The sun is able to "conjure" the green out of the trees, an act that represents the rejuvenation of life.
Even the people on the road are subject to this contrast:
The young walk fast, the old more slowly, but they all walk the same direction, toward the factory or the office park.
Here, we see the young and the old, two groups that represent youth and age, growth and decay, vitality and decline. But despite their differences, they are all moving in the same direction, toward the same destination. The implication here is that no matter how different we may be, we are all subject to the same fate – the passage of time, and ultimately, death.
The Passage of Time
This theme of time is perhaps the most central to the poem. Lux uses the road and the river as symbols of the passage of time, with the river representing the flow of history and the road representing our individual journeys through life.
Consider these lines:
By the time we get there, the river will have flowed a little farther on its way to the sea.
Here, Lux reminds us that time does not stand still. The river is constantly moving, constantly flowing toward its ultimate destination. By extension, we too are constantly moving toward our ultimate destination – whether that be death, or some other endpoint.
The poem also draws attention to the cyclical nature of time:
The river has always flowed beside the road that leads to the factory or the office park.
This suggests that the scene described in the poem is not unique to the present moment. Rather, it is a scene that has played out countless times before, and will continue to play out countless times in the future. The road and the river will always be there, and people will always be rushing to work.
Conclusion
"The Road That Runs Beside The River" is a poem that rewards close reading and careful analysis. It is a powerful meditation on the passage of time, the contrast of life and death, and the power of imagery to evoke emotions and ideas. Lux's use of concrete, evocative language and his skillful handling of contrast make this poem a masterclass in the art of poetry. Whether you are a seasoned poetry lover or a newcomer to the form, "The Road That Runs Beside The River" is a must-read.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Road That Runs Beside The River: A Journey Through Life
Thomas Lux's poem, The Road That Runs Beside The River, is a beautiful and thought-provoking piece of poetry that takes the reader on a journey through life. The poem is a reflection on the human experience and the different paths that we take in life. It is a celebration of the journey, rather than the destination, and encourages us to embrace the twists and turns that life throws our way.
The poem begins with the line, "The road that runs beside the river is crowded with memories." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it immediately establishes the idea that the road is a metaphor for life. The memories that crowd the road are the experiences that we accumulate throughout our lives. They are the people we meet, the places we go, and the things we do. They are the moments that shape us and make us who we are.
Lux then goes on to describe the different types of people that we encounter on the road. He talks about the "young and the old, the rich and the poor, the happy and the sad." This line is a reminder that we are all on this journey together, regardless of our differences. We all have our own memories and experiences, but we are all traveling down the same road.
The poem then takes a darker turn as Lux describes the "broken-down cars and the abandoned houses." These images are a reminder that life is not always easy. We all face challenges and obstacles along the way. We may encounter setbacks and failures, but we must keep moving forward. Lux encourages us to "keep going, keep going, keep going," even when the road gets rough.
Lux then shifts the focus to the river that runs beside the road. He describes it as "a river of tears, a river of joy, a river of life." The river is a metaphor for the passage of time. It is constantly flowing, just as our lives are constantly moving forward. The tears and joy that flow through the river are the emotions that we experience throughout our lives. They are a reminder that life is full of ups and downs, but we must keep moving forward.
Lux then brings the poem full circle as he returns to the road. He describes it as "a road of hope, a road of dreams, a road of love." These are the things that keep us going on our journey through life. They are the things that give us purpose and meaning. They are the things that make life worth living.
The final lines of the poem are some of the most powerful. Lux writes, "And when we reach the end of the road, we will look back and see that it was all worth it." These lines are a reminder that the journey is the destination. It is not about where we end up, but about the experiences that we have along the way. It is about the memories that we create and the people that we meet. It is about the love that we give and the love that we receive.
In conclusion, The Road That Runs Beside The River is a beautiful and inspiring poem that celebrates the journey of life. It encourages us to embrace the challenges and obstacles that we face, and to keep moving forward. It reminds us that we are all on this journey together, and that we must support and encourage one another along the way. It is a reminder that life is full of ups and downs, but that it is all worth it in the end.
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