Thanks Max-Lucky ducks
-----Original Message-----
From: Poetryetc: poetry and poetics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Max Richards
Sent: 24 January 2012 23:54
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: snap: the lake isle of ruffey
The Lake Isle of Ruffey
All this time I haven't mentioned
the tiny island in our little lake!
Indeed it's overlook-able - from
several hills. Its trees and reedy
banks look just like onshore.
Too small to feel worth visiting
for a stroll of, say, ten paces,
or squeeze in nine bean-rows.
The Irish poet never made it
to his lake isle, except in his
imagination. This one
figures in the mind's eye scarcely,
let alone the deep heart's core.
No, all it's good for is ducks
to hatch a clutch remote from night
predators like the rare fox.
An owl of course well might
drop in darkly before the brood
has been led by Mother wadd-
ling down to their tentative
first paddle and even more risks.
This lake isle no doubt was formed
by the same earth-moving
machines as made the lake
from the creek valley and raised
the dam that holds water back
from its old free run all the way down
through Templestowe to the Yarra.
The signs say No Swimming
for Humans, and Discouraged
for Dogs. Should yours swim there,
avoid contact with its wet coat -
stormwater drains feed
the lake - it's far from pure.
Pure, though, our feelings
for it, wherever we view
it from, especially its overlooked
islet unvisited by humans.
What I hear right now's no owl but
a tawny frogmouth sounding Ommm.
A child might wonder whether,
should he make it over the water,
wading, then dog-paddling,
he might be the first to burst
up the bank into the secret
interior there to shelter
his own islanded self,
and still get home in time for tea.
Max Richards, Doncaster Vic
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