nosing towards america

by Ann Foxglove

Friday 17th September 2010 3:48 pm

Lazy waves break over the rock

round and smooth as a seal’s head.

My hand cups to pat it

expecting warmth,

expecting a flick of a tail and then

away.

Across the bay

hummocks of blue green nets swaddle

Smeaton’s Pier where cars are gathered

out of place.

St Ives, all rooves and windows,

looking down.

A slate rock rubble far below

tousled with bladder wrack and further out

the glitter of mussel shell stubble

black castanets. Waves wash.

Across the beach

a labrador swims out,

nosing towards America.

Comments

Ann Foxglove

Sun 19th Sep 2010 11:27

Stef - I never do politics - now you know why! (And I don't do Arthur Askey impressions either - unlike someone I know!)

<Deleted User> (6895)

Sun 19th Sep 2010 11:25

i.e Blair having been referred to as Bush,s little puppy..without the need for the unreeled toilet roll-? aythankyor!

Ann Foxglove

Sun 19th Sep 2010 11:22

Oh dear! Silly me!! I must actually READ your comments Stefan! (I do - honest I do!!) I thought you were talking about the dog - you usually are! (Or so Gemma says!) xx

<Deleted User> (6895)

Sun 19th Sep 2010 11:10

think you missed the joke Ann! heres a clue.....Blair/Bush...or should that be t'uther way round? ta chuck

Cynthia Buell Thomas

Sat 18th Sep 2010 16:14

A super poem, Ann. I enjoyed sliding down line after line, 'tousled with bladder wrack' being my favourite among many fine images. IMO, the stanza about the real places might have used (would you believe it!) an adjective or two for the 'rooves and windows'. The final stanza is just superb, leaving the reader to colour in the dog (mine being dark chocolate like my sister's.)

<Deleted User> (7212)

Sat 18th Sep 2010 13:59

I dont know how you do it again - a poem that I read thinking "this is good, but it's not really for me" then the last stanza puts it in another realm !
do you do it on porpoise ?

Ann Foxglove

Sat 18th Sep 2010 08:50

Thanks guys! Sorry Stef, it was a golden lab! (Otherwise I would have obviously called the poem "Brown-nosing Towards America" wouldn't I! ;-) xx

<Deleted User> (6895)

Fri 17th Sep 2010 22:28

Snap! I,ve been to 'where gulls come to be lonely' as the great 'D.T.' described Milkwood as being i.e. coastal town-burying my grandsons-in sand! unfortunately,I had to dig them up again-lol! lovely poem Ann-would,nt dare ask you to include 'brown' at the beginning of the last line..hee hee! my day was spent in Benllech bay on the Island of Anglesey-boy I love that place! I found that giving the seagulls the 'death stare' keeps em off yer cornetto! lots of apostrophes! today!-best regards lovely Lady!! Stef!!xx!!(G-xx!!)

Graham Sherwood

Fri 17th Sep 2010 16:48

Nice work Ann. There are some good words and images here. Love the Labrador nosing towards America (could have been Labrador though), the black castanets is good, the seals head rock, absolutely great. I found myself thinking of a Van Morrison song "Coney Island" when I was reading it.

If you wish to post a comment you must login.

nosing towards america

Comments

Please consider supporting us