bank holiday

Ireland in the grey footage
of wiry water calling Mary
with sails in dairy days
shouting all mothers gone
with the men making waves
on vessels bobbing on dark water

tackle wet wire and rope
washed by the sea
"in italics" she said waving
by the lighthouse shadow
silent sand wet beneath her feet

it was the morning
of a rainy bank holiday
docking red engines
with slow fire

the day had no particular meaning
there are no face you haven't seen
just a pale October sun
leading you on

generations have walked
the steep streets of Wexford
where green hills and trees
leak into the hardened skin
of the omniscient I
folding day
like a windswept sheet

night's bright necklace of cars
roll the tarmac of lovers
into men of mud
it's the bank holiday
shifting it's freed limbs
looking for a bright space
pinned to the soft tissue floor

I saw a proud general
on an elephant in the sky
riding in memory of a green room
and a green heart
the wings of a great bird
melted into the sea

signs tickets trees
hills clouds and ducks
disappear and die
in a different story
with a similar ending

ancient starry crematoriums
blast atomic time
rivers and church bells
a coin on a tongue
an anchor chain
rattling into the water




Poetry by Bob
Read 713 times
Written on 2014-10-28 at 22:08

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josephus The PoetBay support member heart!
Wonderfully evocative! An impressionists watercolor. Thoroughly enjoyed the read. As an old but still active waterman, I especially loved the marine context. Again, well done.
2014-10-29



An inspired piece from your recent visit, with memories fresh. You've captured the flavor vividly and expressed it back to us with true feelings.
~Ashe
2014-10-29