River
His deep voice gets you up in the morning,
always in a hurry, no time for nonsense.
In his grubby string vest he muscles down the valley,
singing loudly, sweeping away all objections.
At night you hear his murmur, grown-up through floorboards.
His temper is huge but predictable.
He always knows where he’s going. When thwarted,
knows no bounds. Then you need
oilskins, gumboots, a quick boat out of town.
Sometimes he’ll bring you a surprise: fish,
a little canoe, a dragonfly. He keeps
a kingfisher up his sleeve for nostalgia.
Sometimes there’ll be algae for days.
He says nothing about the drowned kittens.
You cannot fathom him: if you ever find
your own reflection in him, it will be very small.
A long way back, another river joined him; her name was lost in his.
He works down at the mill, strong and dependable.
People stop to watch, impressed by his power, his easy grace
with the battling wheel. You are proud of him then.
Now, the dredgers have come.
He sits scared and stiff after the operation.
So grey and quiet in his regulation bed, you hardly dare look.
No swans for weeks.
Page(s) 22
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