EDEN
for B & in memory of Lee Harwood
Tuesday
from Melmerby 179
to Hartside 624
we are nearly horizontal
at the hairpin bend 549
Shake Holes Shake Holes Shake Holes
Wednesday
on Mallerstang high way feeling wonderful
and terrible with sun and wind
looking for the source of the Eden
this is enough for life her life her gift
the new guide book turns out to be a bit vague
surely wrong about the white cottage on the horizon
later you will cross the gill and if the water is high
do not underestimate its force
you will have to turn away
you are annoyed by these possibilities
we will not know until we get there
whether we can continue or turn away
- I used to enjoy computer programming
telling the computer precisely what to do
now they interrupt you with alter
native suggestions with predictive spell ing
fording Hell gill
leaning over the edge of the Force
final fence post
below
a sycamore
leans over dark water
leave the track
pick your way through tussock grass
clutching reeds to cross streams
a meadow of reeds and bog
going over my knees in water mud and slurry
a farmer above us angrily calling
in a stray sheep
holding his position
you must cross the last field
climb an absurdly difficult stile
while I head straight for the road
Friday
on our last day in heavy rain
we give up walking and sail across Ullswater to Aira Force
on the Lady Dorothy
our little boat chases the pirate ship
Drop that rope Jack lad, but not too soon.
Be careful with that rope Jack lad
mocks the pirate
but we start to overtake them
Jack has the hose pipe and shoots at the pirates
who return fire with water pistols
the pirate girl wields her red sabre
asks if we would like to have our throats slit
or if we prefer to be disembowelled
she is emphatic in her gestures
and I start to fall to my knees
I want to know how we will find the right heads
when we need to glue them back on
- when I was a young woman there were no viruses
or anything malicious
it was creative not defensive a faulty
programme was a mistake
not an act of war
Frances Presley
Sept 15
for B & in memory of Lee Harwood
Tuesday
from Melmerby 179
to Hartside 624
we are nearly horizontal
at the hairpin bend 549
Shake Holes Shake Holes Shake Holes
Wednesday
on Mallerstang high way feeling wonderful
and terrible with sun and wind
looking for the source of the Eden
this is enough for life her life her gift
the new guide book turns out to be a bit vague
surely wrong about the white cottage on the horizon
later you will cross the gill and if the water is high
do not underestimate its force
you will have to turn away
you are annoyed by these possibilities
we will not know until we get there
whether we can continue or turn away
- I used to enjoy computer programming
telling the computer precisely what to do
now they interrupt you with alter
native suggestions with predictive spell ing
fording Hell gill
leaning over the edge of the Force
final fence post
below
a sycamore
leans over dark water
leave the track
pick your way through tussock grass
clutching reeds to cross streams
a meadow of reeds and bog
going over my knees in water mud and slurry
a farmer above us angrily calling
in a stray sheep
holding his position
you must cross the last field
climb an absurdly difficult stile
while I head straight for the road
Friday
on our last day in heavy rain
we give up walking and sail across Ullswater to Aira Force
on the Lady Dorothy
our little boat chases the pirate ship
Drop that rope Jack lad, but not too soon.
Be careful with that rope Jack lad
mocks the pirate
but we start to overtake them
Jack has the hose pipe and shoots at the pirates
who return fire with water pistols
the pirate girl wields her red sabre
asks if we would like to have our throats slit
or if we prefer to be disembowelled
she is emphatic in her gestures
and I start to fall to my knees
I want to know how we will find the right heads
when we need to glue them back on
- when I was a young woman there were no viruses
or anything malicious
it was creative not defensive a faulty
programme was a mistake
not an act of war
Frances Presley
Sept 15
