Philip Wilson
Near here
The path to the lake is as pebbled as a south coast beach.
Bushes on both sides make it a trench.
On clear nights cyclists look up and freewheel down,
steering by what stars the bushes leave free.
The lake itself supports swans and daytime fishermen.
Its buildings have a New England innocence.
Visitors should stand with their backs to the laundry
where the windows are broken and boarded up for ever.
The moon on the lake chills the view to a view.
Walking down here, visitors should ignore
the burnt-out cars, soon to be cleared by the Council,
and concentrate on a swan that concentrates on the moon.
The low brick wall frames the view, becomes a place to sit
with the back to the laundry that was once hit by a bomb.
The cold is calming, water promises too much
and this could be anywhere, even not near here.
Bushes on both sides make it a trench.
On clear nights cyclists look up and freewheel down,
steering by what stars the bushes leave free.
The lake itself supports swans and daytime fishermen.
Its buildings have a New England innocence.
Visitors should stand with their backs to the laundry
where the windows are broken and boarded up for ever.
The moon on the lake chills the view to a view.
Walking down here, visitors should ignore
the burnt-out cars, soon to be cleared by the Council,
and concentrate on a swan that concentrates on the moon.
The low brick wall frames the view, becomes a place to sit
with the back to the laundry that was once hit by a bomb.
The cold is calming, water promises too much
and this could be anywhere, even not near here.
Page(s) 34
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