Bethany Rivers is the author of ‘Fountain of Creativity – Ways to nourish your writing’ from Victorina Press,
‘the sea refuses no river’ from Fly on the Wall Press
and ‘Off the wall’ from Indigo Dreams, and has many single poems published in the UK and USA.
Below are samples of the poems performed by Bethany Rivers.
Review of ‘Off the wall’: The Pre-Raphaelite Woman: Art & Poetry
http://www.indigodreams.co.uk/bethany-rivers/4592595600
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3x poems published in International Times, April 2020
http://internationaltimes.it/time-is-meaningless-lockdown-under-a-pink-moon/
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Poem: Whales – published by Honey and Lime, Issue 5, Oct 2019
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Poem: Map for the Bereaved – published by Riggwelter, Issue 18, Feb 2019
https://riggwelterpress.wordpress.com/2019/02/01/issue-eighteen/
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Poem: Rise – published as part of ’84: Poems on male suicide, Vulnerability, Grief and Hope’ Feb 2019
https://vervepoetrypress.com/product/eighty-four-poems-on-male-suicide-vulnerability-grief-and-hope/
All proceeds go to the charity CALM.
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Launch of Fly on the Wall’s anthology on the theme of the outsider, released 16th October 2018
https://www.flyonthewallpoetry.co.uk/pre-order-persona-non-grata
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Poem: Unsaid – Riggwelter – Issue 13, Sept 2018
https://riggwelterpress.wordpress.com/2018/09/01/issue-13/
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Poem: Ophelia’s Dreaming – August 2018 – in ‘Algebra of Owls’
Ophelia’s Dreaming – by Bethany Rivers
Poem: Demeter’s Veil – August 2018 – Issue 11, Into the trees
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The Writers’ Cafe Magazine – ISSUE 11 “Into the Trees”
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5x poems including: Hiraeth / No voice / Time is softer – August 2018
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Poem called: No flight plan
Picaroon, Issue #12, May 2018
Picaroon Poetry – Issue #12 – May 2018
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Poem called: Capitol Hill, 13th March 2018
The Writers’ Cafe Magazine – ISSUE 7 “Shoes”
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Poem called: At my father’s grave – Highly Commended in Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival Competition 2018
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Poem: sometimes it’s winter in the middle of summer
Algebra of Owls, Feb 2018
https://algebraofowls.com/2018/02/14/sometimes-its-winter-in-the-middle-of-summer-by-bethany-rivers/
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Violets – withered all when my father died
Three drops from a cauldron, Issue 18, August 2017
https://threedropspoetry.co.uk/2017/08/23/three-drops-from-a-cauldron-issue-18-august-2017/
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Yorkshire Anthology – Released August 2017
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Three poems at Clear Poetry:
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Poem called ‘The Malvern Hills’ (about coming home, accepting a new home)
‘The Everyday Poet’, Editor Deborah Alma (Emergency Poet)
https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-everyday-poet/deborah-alma/978178243
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Poem called ‘At Seventeen’, Silver Birch Press, Feb 2017
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Photo ‘Heart Break’, by Angela Chaney, Prints available at fineartamerica.com
Hygge poem: ‘white fire’ at Angela Topping’s Blog on Hygge poems, Jan 2017
https://angelatopping.wordpress.com/2017/01/26/hygge-feature-17-coming-in-from-the-cold-and-dark/
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Poems celebrating ‘Love & Ensuing Madness’ at Rat’s Ass Review, Jan 2017:
http://ratsassreview.net/?page_id=1070
Art work: ‘One Heart’ by Susan Solomon
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‘deep cut’ – Clear Poetry Anthology 2016
https://clearpoetry.wordpress.com/anthology-2016/
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Poem about the friendliness of arachnids:
‘Spider’ – Fair Acre Press e-book, February 2016
http://fairacrepress.co.uk/shop/poetry-on-spiders-ebook/
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Poem about a hospital stay and the parent leaves:
‘Without Goodbyes’ – Ink Sweat & Tears, 25th April 2015
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http://www.inksweatandtears.co.uk/pages/?s=bethany+rivers
Poem about inner-stillness: ‘deep ear’ – The Ofi Press, Issue 45
http://www.ofipress.com/riversbethany.htm
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Political protest poems:
‘Peace-Seeker’ & ‘Behind Closed Doors’ – I am not a silent poet, 6th March 2016
‘Breaking News’, 11th Sept 2016
https://iamnotasilentpoet.wordpress.com/2016/03/06/peace-seeker-by-bethany-rivers/
https://iamnotasilentpoet.wordpress.com/2016/03/06/behind-closed-doors-by-bethany-rivers/
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Magical winter poem: ‘Snow Prayer’ – Three Drops from a Cauldron, 17th December 2015
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Poems: ‘What Lies Behind’ & ‘Treasure Hunt’ – Amygdala (USA)
https://amygdalalitmag.wordpress.com/issue-2/what-lies-behind/
https://amygdalalitmag.wordpress.com/issue-2/treasure-hunt/
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‘Raw Edges’ – Poems to Survive in – Fat Damsel, April 2016
https://thefatdamsel.wordpress.com/issue-8/
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Poem about loss of a parent: ‘Message of a Name’ – Silver Birch Press, Nov 2016
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The poem below was published by Wenlock Poetry Festival as part of their Valentine’s Celebration in 2015:
In Silhouette
the candle in the centre of the windowsill
flickers its flame forwards
almost touching
its reflection
her shadow
greets his shadow
like two willows
lacing a brook
fairy lights frame
the window
blink blink
room holds its breath
fire hesitates
before its next crackle
wind’s howl drops
to a low moan
table and chairs feel
permeable
like liquid or air
her breath
now
touching his
heat shimmers
between lips
phone resolute stays silent
front door is busy
repelling visitors
or the thought of them
her eyes close
like a feather falling
his eyes close
like a camera shutter
miniature carriage clock
on its mantelpiece
reflected in a fairy
light window
stops
Bethany Rivers
The poem below was published by Wenlock Poetry Festival as part of their 2014 Advent Calendar:
Solstice
There’s a song within you
that’s waiting to be heard.
The universe expands
the breath within your lungs.
The lake with no boats is still
anticipating the rise of the sun
and the season to open. Through
the thickets of winter, and the lattice
hedges of scribble, beyond
the luminescence of snow-berries
against a grey-billowing sky,
the buds are growing deeper
on the horse chestnut tree,
the ash is preparing for future keys,
we return to sing the re-birth of the sun.
Bethany Rivers
Further poems can be found in Envoi (Issue 171), Bare Fiction (Issue 2), Obsessed with Pipework, Sarasvati (Issue 40), several issues of Blithe Spirit and many other magazines and anthologies.