I am absolutely delighted to be part of the 30-year celebration of the Thames Footpath, as its poet in residence, creating a dynamic trail of 30 short poems that reflect what the River Thames means to us. It will begin at the source and end at the sea, accessible via QR codes on the footpath’s finger posts. You’ll also be able to hear my voice reading them. 

Follow the trail 

There will be words of reflection, about the power of nature to take us somewhere else. At Barnes Wetlands Centre I learned about the migratory journey of the arctic tern which travels an extraordinary 25,000 miles every year, almost forgetful of wings, breaking its journey at this river haven. 

There will be words about activity, about walking and running, wild swimming, the camaraderie of rowing, the sedate mystery of angling. Walkers spoke of the footpath almost as pilgrims do: that sense of a destination and a rhythm of steps, to listen to heart, gut, the stranger body. 

…and the river remembers 

There will be words about history and myth, the river as time, transporting us back to other moments which are still connected to us through the flow of water. The fragmentary finds of mudlarks, a broken piece of this moment, this river, this world, or palaces like Hampton Court, their glittering comings and goings. 

And there will be words about the world, how we have not cared enough about it and yet are all connected to it. Ashes scattered in the Thames for Hindu burial rituals will eventually dissolve – I give her to let her go. 

What has become absolutely clear to me in working on this fascinating project is – how important this river is, and how a river means so much more than a river. All the lives I live in the patterns they make. Within a couple of minutes of my many conversations, people were not telling me about a river, they were telling me about how they live their lives. 

Get involved 

To complete the project, I’ll be writing a community poem at its finale, capturing what this river means to everyone in their own words. If you’d like to be part of this, simply send me a short phrase or three words that evoke what the River Thames is for you (robertseatter@hotmail.com).  

And all the poems will ultimately be available in a hand-printed publication, RIVER.