Patrick Early
Swimming at Clahane
A gull twice stoops down
and peers at my severed head.
Come closer, cruel-eyed predator,
and you’ll see a quadruped
sleek as a dog-seal,
rising and falling on a gentle swell,
mind and body nicely slack
as blood cools
to meet the delicious wrap
of ocean, and worries fall
away like dandruff
and settle on the sea floor.
I am fishlike, wily, know the rips
and currents of this great bay
Look I am hang-gliding over sea-cliffs
this halibut is me.
Calmly I slide over a battleground
of rocks, a cavalry of seagrass
with streaming banners of kelp,
but I am easy, I am tranquil
rising and falling on the grey swell.
I care no more than a dog-seal
what silent wars are being fought
below, nor care what others feel,
nor who is calling out for help.
and peers at my severed head.
Come closer, cruel-eyed predator,
and you’ll see a quadruped
sleek as a dog-seal,
rising and falling on a gentle swell,
mind and body nicely slack
as blood cools
to meet the delicious wrap
of ocean, and worries fall
away like dandruff
and settle on the sea floor.
I am fishlike, wily, know the rips
and currents of this great bay
Look I am hang-gliding over sea-cliffs
this halibut is me.
Calmly I slide over a battleground
of rocks, a cavalry of seagrass
with streaming banners of kelp,
but I am easy, I am tranquil
rising and falling on the grey swell.
I care no more than a dog-seal
what silent wars are being fought
below, nor care what others feel,
nor who is calling out for help.
Patrick Early has worked overseas for
the British Council and is now retired.
the British Council and is now retired.
Page(s) 21
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