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Experience the thrills of the Weekly Poems Contest.
--
January 15th, 2026
United States Poetry Contest #1 – First Place
by Ronja Vieth
I sat down and wept and
found its waters are made of tears.
My own, ample as they are
make up only a small portion of all
its grief. Legend says everything
that falls into its waters drops
to the bottom with the new life of
a pebble, due to its cold. But
that cannot be true, as
the river still rushes, the ages of leaves,
bugs, and sorrows would have built a dam
by now – yet it flows. Ice cold,
relentless, raging along, brimming,
then tapering with loss and debris,
yet always finding
its way to the ocean, mother
of all, womb of creation, ultimate
comfort and peace.
Note: By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept is a 1994 novel by Paolo Coelho.
About the Poet
Ronja Vieth resides in Kyle, Texas, United States.
Read the poet's biography and Wax Poetry and Art publications
on Ronja Vieth's Artist Page.
This poem is also featured in Poetry World #14, published in the Wax Poetry and Art Library.
Keywords: River Piedra, relentless, creation, peace
Previously published in United States Poetry Magazine:
Nostalgia (first line)
by Melinda Zheng
United States Poetry Magazine is part of the Wax Poetry and Art Network.
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