Journey by the River
I imagine I’ll see you one day.
I hope you’re at peace.
The wind gives me tiny kisses against my skin—
it’s like you’re here again,
with me, playing by that river,
like we used to as kids.
Roses were always your favorite,
so I dedicate this one to you.
Hues of blue, shifting, changing,
Transforming from the darkness to the light,
shining as bright as the dreams you had for me.
Yellow by the river, I am finally free.
Free to let go,
to cherish this moment and the memories we shared.
Forever locked and intertwined,
I can finally see the future we once dreamed of—
Though you are gone, I carry you with me in essence,
Standing tall, in this yellow dress by the river, I am happy.
Yellow By The River (2022) by Johnson Ocheja
When writing this poem, I thought about what stood out to me in the painting. From the deep blue hues, the bright yellow dress, and the small yet significant rose that contrasts against them. I wondered what the woman might be thinking, what she was looking toward, and what might her connection to the river be or is there any connection to it at all? While I admire the beauty of the painting, I also wanted to explore the presence of pain, grief, and healing, showing how they can coexist.
At first, I wasn’t sure what message I wanted to convey. However, as I wrote the first stanza, after experimenting with multiple versions, this one stuck with me. I didn’t want the poem to focus solely on sadness. Instead, I wanted to highlight that it’s okay to move forward and find happiness after loss, without guilt. The woman in the poem dedicats a rose in remembrance, symbolizing her shift from being in a dark place mentally to realizing that there is still a future worth living.
The artist used yellow in the painting to represent happiness, and I wanted to continue that theme with my own twist. By the river, she recalls shared memories and dreams, yet I left the identity of the lost loved one open-ended, allowing readers to connect in their own way. Maybe it reminds you of someone you’ve lost or the feeling of figuring out what’s next. The poem reflects the stages of her healing, moving through grief and embracing life again, as if a heavy weight has been lifted. Just as the yellow dress stands out in the painting, I incorporated it to bring the poem together, ensuring it tells a story that offers both reflection and a sense of closure.
I did not use generative AI to create this poem.