Sunday, August 28, 2022

LAKE MOON by Murray Jennings

(from the novel ‘All Our Christmases’)


I have no idea what bird that is which scuds,

a silhouette along the silver-pink surface.

You need to hear a call, but it’s nearly night

and they don’t.


It’s not quite a lake, although there’s been more rain.

The frogs sound resigned to the season change,

the grasses, reeds and marshes

are fed again by the winter creek

from the foothills

where cashed-up people spend the weekends

scraping barnacles from boats

and vacuuming driveways.


Across the water, distant shadows are absorbed

and suburban lights flick on for the News.

I have no boat, no house, no complaints.

For me, nothing taints this swamp

this winter silence

an old bed

a shed roof almost leakproof

a lake moon

rates to pay soon.



PS: The novel is for sale at Crow Books and New Edition

No comments: