The cryptic poem is the invention of Durham University's own Simon Rennie.

There are ten syllables in each line.

Each line has had two words removed but clues have been provided for them.

The rhyme scheme is ABBAB for each stanza.

Return the poem to its original form. 

 

---

 

                

 

                 

                Heron

 

A heron in stasis, -------- the ----

(Bringer of ----- to the ------- flow

Of a swollen -----) will never ----

How beautiful --- is, how ---- near

A perfect ------ the seeds of ------ grow.

 

With ------ beak poised and coal black eye ----

On her ----, she weighs their lives in -------

Playing ------ games ------- time and chance.

------ of fish ------- blithely past;

One feels the ----- of the end of the -----.

 

Rising serene in the slow ---- of ------,

Brow-beating ------ with tidal wave -----

The heron ------- and looks ---- on things,

-------- ------- of all in her sight.

In her nest she ------ of what the weir ------.

 

Clues

1.  Pursuing speech after point (8)

2.  We are contracted to sound like small dam (4)

3.  Random events occur in mocha oscillation (5)

4.  Instructed to get organized (7)

5.  Waterway found in drive round (5)

6.  Perceive presently after short number (4)

7.  He’s confused about feminine pronoun (3) 

8.  Extremely, like an old lamp (4)

9.  Tap found in garden (6)

10. The essence of style (6)

 

11. Require the French sewing implement (6)

12. Make devotion sound like victim (4)

13.  Stuck rapid (4)

14.  Puncture after degree to achieve equilibrium (7)

15.  Pound lathe to bits? Deadly (6)

16.  Opposed to gains in reversed auxillary force (7)

17.  Sleep points the way to multiples of twelve (6)

18.  Flash loud tongue (7)

19.  Surprise of South German wine (5)

20.  Wildly caned for jig (5)

 

21.  Elevate big heel (4)

22.  Strong, insubstantial mode of travel (6)

23.  Drag north to paradise (6)

24.  Swing about for bird limbs (5)

25.  A short science finishes and is elevated (7)

26.  Feather nether direction? (4)

27.  Religiously devout, like a ballerina? (8)

28. Dominance of teacher unknown (7)

29.  Imagines dead piles of paper (6)

30.  Collects birth circles (6)