River
in the black gland of the earth
the tiny inkling of a river
put your ear to the river you hear trees
put your ear to the trees you hear the widening
numerical workings of the river
right down the length of Devon,
under a milky square of light that keeps quite still
the river slows down and goes on
with storm trash clustered on its branches
and paper unfolding underwater
and pairs of ducks swimming over bright grass among flooded
willows
the earth's eye
looking through the earth's bones
carries the moon carries the sun but keeps nothing
______________
Alice Oswald
Woods etc.
Faber & Faber
2005
