The dizziness of the rivers
East Dart meets West Dart
To become the River Dart
Here, however far
Down the valley side we have fallen
We are still above the sea
Surrounded by books of places
And spaces, and Zen meditation
As the I sometimes forgets to be
For the ears; music, through
The transistor radio; any noise
Is welcomed, to overwhelm
The swirls which rush on to the sea
Another glass of gin
Another scone and jam
To commit an inner sin
To join the curse of damned
Or to float
On the slow passing cloud
The boards of wood are thin
The door-stop securely slammed
To commit an inner sin
To taste the words of man
Or to sail
Into the easterly wind
With the sun on your back
Bolt hole, brick hole
Corrugated chapel
The cries of youth
Starless skies
Deepest river valleys
The dearth of truth
Railways rattle
On into up-country
With weight to pass
Settle the bill
Pay the overdue account
Open your eyes
Step on the gas
Alice has already told you this story before
But she cannot be here this morning
So if I might
I will make my own recollection
Of thrusting torrents battering
The buttress pillars of the bridge
Raging and racing waters, tearing their way
Tumultuous and tremulous down to the sea
It is December after all
With silver grey skies miles above the moor
A single guest in the quiet guest house
Alice could not be here not today
So let us with our memories press on
Floppy felt hats
Piccolo playing buskers
A remoteness which only comes
From a severe indulgence
With drugs
Two rivers meet
Cutting through the valleys
Awash with an urgency which only comes
From a perceived deliverance
Of the winter
The monks strode
Out from the monastery
For incantations on the moor
