SHIP STREET

i.m. Lee Harwood

 
 
A monochrome patch of grey,
far off, as if retiring,
there’s the sea horizon –
best coast can do today.
It’s quiet, but for seagulls’
alarums, rumours of war
in drawn friends’ conversation
spilled from a hostelry door …
 
Brought together by a death
and the battles long ago
are survivors, walking wounded
(some of whom you know).
Though Lee’s got clean away,
like one last generosity,
he’s opened his address book
and brought us all to the sea
as only he could do.


Peter Robinson