Hi Cara,

There seems to be trouble with reception so I hope to receive. I generally
like this poem. You could tighten up possible by missing out the second
stanza as the rumination here is not needed.

bw
James



>From: cara may <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: New sub for c and c: Washed-Up
>Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2001 18:42:22 +0000
>
>Dear All, I wonder if I have somehow got outside the
>loop since there's very little coming in. So I guessed
>the thing to do was to put more out, as a test of
>sorts.
>
>ANOTHER POEM WITH A WARNING: may have a too upsetting
>image for some.Promise a cheerful one next.
>cheers,cara
>
>
>
>
>
>---             Washed-Up
>
>       |She walks by the river
>        crosses the foot-bridge
>        over turbulent falls,
>        flounders in cattle  prints
>        near the stiles.
>        Buoyant mallards make light
>        of choppy waters
>        or tuck themselves up on banks
>        to dose in wintry sun.
>        A herring-gull, tired of its laziness,
>        makes off on sturdy wing.
>        Sometimes she uses her binoculars.
>        She hears the current's suck and pluck
>        at the deep edges under the trees,
>        then follows where the river widens,
>        mockingly innocent in its calm.
>        Four men come towards her on the path
>        one wreathed in rope.
>        They pass with grave greetings.
>        Would it take so much rope? she wonders
>        as she had doubted the relevance
>        of the gaudy canoes and their yellow-jacketed
>        operators.
>
>        She turns back,
>        feels useless.
>        She knows nothing of water rescue.
>        Has spent, it seems, a lifetime
>        rescuing others from lesser hurts
>        on dry land.
>
>        As she crosses the last stile
>        the ooze of melted creosote
>        spreads into her palm;
>        but what she sees is blood
>        from a tossed head
>        merging
>        into sullen waters.
>
>cara                         November 2001
>
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