Stevie Smith's poem "The River God" - Analysis

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The River God (Stevie Smith)

The poem 'The River God' could be classed as a reflective poem due to the many sides and emotions portrayed throughout the poem by the river. This could make the reader reflect with the river while also going on a journey with the river throughout the poem. The poem is about a river which seems playful and humorous at the start of the poem but nearer the end seems lonely and spiteful due to a woman trying to leave him, which resulted in what I infer as the river drowning her, 'wash away the fear' - but really believing he was being loving and caring towards the woman. I think that the voice of the poem may be of a fictional manifestation in a river or maybe even the poet themself. To me, the poet is speaking and reflecting upon their self but also speaking out to the reader.

The poem is structured in a series of lines of different lengths. In general every fourth line is longer than the earlier three. In the middle of the poem is the longest line which might make it the most important, this could also