The River Flows (The anthem)

To my readers: On Sunday, May 4, 2008 The River Flows was performed as an anthem by the chancel choir at the Lancaster Church of the Brethren, Lancaster, PA. I wrote the poem in 2005, and recently printed up that poem together with some other things that I wrote in a little booklet that I gave to some friends. One of those friends, Linda Adsitt, composed a tune to the poem. She gave it to my choir director, Emery DeWitt who arranged it into an anthem.

- The Old Professor




Listen to the performance (streaming mp3) or download the mp3 files:

Before clicking on the link to listen to the file, print this page on your printer so that you follow along with the text, or if you simply minimize your player window, you can follow the text below:
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The River Flows

A river
How long will it flow?
The river flows through endless miles,
Extending to the sea.
While fed by countless streams and rills
That flow through wood and lea.

The raindrops formed in clouds on high,
Fall softly to the ground.
They water crops in fertile soil,
Collecting underground.

This cycle goes on endlessly
And has since earliest day.
When once the rivers cease to flow
All life will go away.

Our fragile world is in our hands,
Its life we can destroy.
If we but live more simple lives,
Its wealth we will enjoy.

The river flows through endless miles,
Extending to the sea.
Salvation for this tiny globe
Is up to you and me.

Copyright © Jay D Weaver - January 7, 2005

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