To the Goddess of Rhamnous
That mirrored the sky
Above Sandholme Lane
We threaded our way across ancient carrs
And came to our canal
Where moorhens hid their young
In rushes and whispering reeds
As legendary pike observed us
From their aqueous lairs.
Quietly, so quietly, untying sisal ropes
We launched paint peeling rowing boats
And slipped out across the narrow ocean...
The Royal Navy... "The Golden Hind"...
"Jason and the Argonauts".
Scooping green algae with our oars
And laughing at the afternoon
A pledge to stealth forgotten
We froze
When our nemesis appeared
Upon the bridge predictably
In flowered pinafore
With floured fingers
Hubris hunting Old Ma Fairlow
Keeper of canals and scourge of happy days
"You bloody lot again!"
Abandoning ship we scarpered for
Our hedgerow hidden bicycles
And pedalled home for tea.
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