trout

Scrunch

Bernadette Hall

walking slowly in shoes that are completely unsuitable
the open toes like little dustpans attracting the gravel

                                   *

look there’s a red and white hang glider    a body
slung in the harness between two ropes     like the clasp
in an amythestine necklace    the small fry are racing
in and out of the sea     they are scarcely visible
at this distance     a white whisk follows the whale boat   

                                   *

the wounds in the marshland fill slowly with fresh water    

                                   *

hello she said     (we were riding elephants in Jaipur)  
how admirable is the design on your opulent blue saddle cloth  
like fishing lines laid out       or scrunches of wet seaweed