This time last year, torrential rain caused extensive flooding in the North East town of Morpeth. Cars floated down The Wansbeck, people were evacuated, homes were ruined and historic buildings damaged.
Since then the town has made a remarkable recovery and once more the river is a tame and pleasant companion to this ancient, pretty, market town.
Just this afternoon I met a total stranger in Morrisons and we had a most interesting conversation about literature, C.S.Lewis to Bill Bryson through Asimov - shocking the things that go in these supermarkets! :)
Anyway, this one is for
The Wansbeck
Water seeps through thirteenth century walls,
inundating present gift-shop stalls.
The Chantry sings the river’s song.
That sanguine stream that snaked its way through town
drowns years in minutes. Snake turned serpent-bound,
joins in singing the river’s song.
Untamable, it finds its torrents course
and hungry for possession, takes by force.
Still louder grows the river’s song.
Be gone, it sings, litter my banks no more.
I will flow freely where I’ve flowed before
and you will learn the river’s strong.
© Oonah V Joslin 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Dear Oonah, Thankyou for the most valuable and interesting grocery shop around Morrisons I have ever done.I have been thinking about your analysis of the work of C.S lewis with great interest,and it has given me a fresh approach to Ward's analsis of his work( The Seven planets).
ReplyDeleteReading your own exciting work has opened a a new literary window, what I have read so far is compulsive reading! Thankyou for talking to me!
Amanda, Thank you! It was a most interesting conversation and refreshing to find a kindred spirit in the middle of a supermarket :) It's very good of you to read my work. Many thanks. Keep an eye on this site. I update all my work on the Links sections of this blog. :)
ReplyDelete