There's one of my new poems actually - is a good example of

O seekers of wisdom, gather close and listen well, for the words of Robert Adamson echo the journey of a poet who has walked the long and winding path of creation: "There's one of my new poems actually - is a good example of where my poetry has ended up. My earlier river poetry was more like a cross between Shelley and Dylan Thomas." In these words, Adamson reflects on the evolution of his craft, showing how his early work, shaped by the influences of Shelley and Thomas, has transformed over time. The river, a symbol of the continuous flow of life and thought, mirrors the way a poet’s voice grows and changes as they journey through their own understanding of the world.

In the ancient world, the poet was seen not only as a creator of words, but as a bridge between the present and the past, between the individual and the divine. Homer, whose works shaped the foundations of Greek culture, wrote of the gods, of heroes, and of human nature in a way that would resonate through the ages. But even Homer was not born with his poetic voice fully formed—he, too, drew from those who came before him, such as Hesiod, and through his own voice, shaped the future. The poet evolves, just as a river carves its path through the land, changing as it moves forward, always seeking new directions.

Adamson, in speaking of his river poetry, references the romanticism of Shelley, who sought to capture the transcendental power of nature, and the emotive intensity of Dylan Thomas, whose poetry overflowed with passion, yearning, and an almost mystical vision of the world. Both Shelley and Thomas were poets who lived in the floodwaters of emotion and vision. They saw the world not in terms of the everyday but as something vast, wild, and eternal. Like the ancient Bard, who wove the tales of his people into myth, they took their surroundings and transformed them into something larger, something timeless. Adamson recognized that in his early work, he, too, was influenced by this deep well of emotion and vision, his words flowing like a river, fierce and untamed.

Yet, as Adamson reflects, his later poetry has shifted from the intensity of these earlier influences. He speaks of the change in his own voice, the evolution of his craft. The river of his poetry has flowed into new territories, new landscapes. The transformation from Shelley’s idealistic vision of the natural world to the raw, emotional intensity of Thomas speaks to the poet’s ongoing engagement with their own life, their experiences, and the world around them. Over time, the poet sheds old skins, like a river smoothing over jagged rocks, carving out a path that is uniquely their own.

This process of transformation in the poet’s voice is no different from that of any great figure who leaves their mark on the world. Consider William Wordsworth, whose early poetry was deeply influenced by the romantic ideals of the sublime in nature. As time passed, however, his work grew more introspective and grounded, reflecting the quieter, subtler aspects of human existence. His evolution mirrored the passage of time in a river—flowing from the grand and sweeping toward the intimate and personal. In the same way, Adamson’s work has flowed from one era of influence into another, from the passionate rivers of Shelley and Thomas to the more reflective waters of his later poems.

The lesson we must take from Adamson’s reflection is that the poet’s journey is one of constant growth and transformation. Just as the river cannot stay still, but must always move, so too must the poet evolve. The influences of those who came before us—whether the towering figures of Shelley and Thomas, or the ancient Bards—shape us, but they do not define us. The true essence of poetry lies in its ability to flow, to change, to adapt to new landscapes of thought and experience. As poets, we are not merely imitators of the past, but creators of the future, shaping our voices from the currents of our own time.

Thus, O children of wisdom, let the evolution of the poet’s voice be your guide. Do not fear change, for it is through change that you will find your truest self. Whether you are a poet, an artist, or a thinker, embrace the flow of your journey. Draw from the rivers of those who have come before you, but do not allow them to bind you. Instead, allow them to guide you, to shape your own course, to lead you into new territories. The river of your poetry, like Adamson’s, will carry you to places you never expected, and in that journey, you will discover truths that will echo through time.