Life on the River

Life on the River

A Poem by Thomas W Case
"

Here is a link to my you tube channel where I read my poetry from my recently published books, available on Amazon.com

"
Crazy times of dime bag
dreams and fevered river
scenes that would drown
the lice in Bukowski's beard.

There was a quiet stretch of
sand on the Iowa River, not
far from downtown.
I pitched a tent in the woods
behind that little beach.
Blue herons and blue balls,
I hadn't been laid in a while.

A woman in a red one-piece
swimsuit used to come on
sunny days and lie in the sand
drinking Chardonnay.
I should have done like the
crawdaddy and backed
away.

I stumbled out of the woods
one afternoon, and began talking to
her and drinking her wine.
We laughed and drank under
that demented Iowa sun.
At night, we peeled off our
clothes and swam in the river with
the water snakes and ghosts that
floated down from the university.
I'm almost positive that
Dylan Thomas and Vonnegut
drank with us one night.
It could have just been
cholera or typhoid.

I built a fire after our swim, and we
danced naked and fucked next to an
old elm tree.
The otters and muskrats watched,
as the crawdaddyy slowly backed
away into the wine-soaked night.

© 2025 Thomas W Case


Author's Note

Thomas W Case
My recently published book, Sleep Always Calls, is available on Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Always-Calls-Thomas-Case/dp/B0F7FS5DQB/ref=sr

www.thomaswcase.com

My Review

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Featured Review

Vivid imagery and a lot of colorful language. I liked the references to other poets. Life was quite different back then. Was it better? Who really knows? We thought we could swim with the snakes in murky waters and still come out just fine. If only the crawdaddy could have given us advice. Great write, Thomas. Lydi**

Posted 8 Months Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Thomas W Case

7 Months Ago

Thank you, Lydi. I appreciate it.



Reviews

To be young and foolish again. Maybe we can be old and foolish? I enjoyed the tale and the scenery. You made the reader see and believe every word. Thank you Thomas for sharing the outstanding poetry and memory.
Coyote

Posted 7 Months Ago


Splendid write Thomas🙏🏻🕊️

Posted 7 Months Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Thomas W Case

7 Months Ago

Thank you. I appreciate it.
redd Brick Keshner

7 Months Ago

Most welcome, Thomas🕊️🙏🏻
Ah, the things we will do when we are young. Who knows what dangers lay in that river? Of course, sufficient chardonnay and a nude female swim mate can do much to take our mind off snakes.

Posted 7 Months Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Thomas W Case

7 Months Ago

lol. Thank you so much.
Thank you for allowing me to read.


Usha/Jessy Jacob

Posted 7 Months Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Thomas W Case

7 Months Ago

Thank you, my friend. I appreciate it.
Fabulous Thomas and you are in a rich vein of Poetic form atm. Exceptional ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

Posted 7 Months Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Thomas W Case

7 Months Ago

Thank you, my friend. I appreciate it.
Vivid imagery and a lot of colorful language. I liked the references to other poets. Life was quite different back then. Was it better? Who really knows? We thought we could swim with the snakes in murky waters and still come out just fine. If only the crawdaddy could have given us advice. Great write, Thomas. Lydi**

Posted 8 Months Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Thomas W Case

7 Months Ago

Thank you, Lydi. I appreciate it.

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Added on May 18, 2025
Last Updated on May 18, 2025

Author

Thomas W Case
Thomas W Case

Clear Lake, IA



About
Thomas W. Case was born in Oxnard. He has published 3 volumes of poetry. The Bullfrog Dreams of Flying, Artichokes, Avocados, and Van Gogh, and Seedy Town Blues. He has won several poetry contests. Hi.. more..