Denise Bennett
Canute's Daughter
Bosham Church
There are the expected
candles, flowers, lace-edged altar cloth,
tiled floor, carved pulpit, marble font,
plaque to the war dead...
but buried beneath the Chancel
is the small daughter of King Canute
who slipped and fell into the mill stream
aged eight.
For nearly a thousand years
this memory, carried on our breath
has been told and retold.
Outside, a thick frond of cream roses
are dipping low to taste the flow;
a family of mallards swim in sun;
here the spirit of a girl lingers.
I listen to her laughter, watch
the amethyst
light play on the waves her father
tried to tame –
think of him
lifting his dead daughter,
stroking her wet, black hair
cursing that he could not
command the sea.
candles, flowers, lace-edged altar cloth,
tiled floor, carved pulpit, marble font,
plaque to the war dead...
but buried beneath the Chancel
is the small daughter of King Canute
who slipped and fell into the mill stream
aged eight.
For nearly a thousand years
this memory, carried on our breath
has been told and retold.
Outside, a thick frond of cream roses
are dipping low to taste the flow;
a family of mallards swim in sun;
here the spirit of a girl lingers.
I listen to her laughter, watch
the amethyst
light play on the waves her father
tried to tame –
think of him
lifting his dead daughter,
stroking her wet, black hair
cursing that he could not
command the sea.
Page(s) 50
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