the cries of all the ages
coursing through the land
are carried to the sea
as deep calls unto deep
hush for just a moment
forget your private pain
and tune your ears to listen to
the cries of all the ages
stand beside the river
hear its gurgling flow
let its power sustain you while
coursing through the land
now lift your voice to heaven
and blend it with the rush
for yours, and all earth’s pains
are carried to the sea
then walk away with freedom
to live in joy and peace
for waves turn grief to gladness
as deep calls unto deep
Written for d’Verse Poetics: Water, Water Everywhere.
Copyright © 2019 Abigail Gronway – All Rights Reserved
Scansion:
Cascade
Each line of the first stanza is repeated as the last line of succeeding stanzas, with no set stanza length or line length.
Thus, a Cascade may have as few as 6 lines (3 couplet stanzas), with no maximum. But always, it will have one more stanza than the total number of lines in each stanza.
Rhyme scheme of triad stanza: ABC xxA xxB xxC, where x may be rhymed or unrhymed.
Rhyme scheme of quatrain stanza: ABCD xxxA xxxB xxxC xxxD
Total line length: 6, 12, 20, 30, 42, 56, 72, etc. lines
Total line length formula = x(x+1)
Dark Side of the Moon 
I love this cascade, and thank you for explaining just how to write one!
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Thank you, Victoria. And you’re welcome. 🙂 Because I’m a teacher at heart (and formerly by profession) most of my poems include the scansion at the bottom of the post. I love discovering new forms—and sharing what I’ve learned. Have a great day!
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This is quite beautiful Abigail… 🙂
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Thank you, Rob.
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I really like this one!
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Thank you, Jenna.
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Nice sound and sense in this line: “as deep calls unto deep”
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I’m glad you liked it, but I must confess that it is not original with me. I got it from the Bible, Psalm 42:7, to be specific. “Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.” This verse was my inspiration for the poem. But instead of taking the perspective of the depressed person inside the waterfall, with the water going over his head, I had the subject standing beside the water, casting his cares into the water to be carried away. The psalmist is also delivered from his depression.
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That is a good Bible verse to use for this. And a good approach to depression.
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Such a joyous poem. I specially love:
now lift your voice to heaven
and blend it with the rush
for yours, and all earth’s pains
are carried to the sea
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Thank you, Grace.
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I love your voice blending with the rush!Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
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Thank you, Jo. I appreciate your comment.
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This is wonderful.
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Thank you. I’m glad you liked it, and I appreciate your comment.
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