Thursday, April 11, 2019

ALICE OSWALD ~





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