I<\/p>\n
The sky above the valley
\nwould have been difficult in a jigsaw puzzle:
\nblue with occasional puffs of cloud.
\nThe slope down was an artist’s dream:
\nsturdy trees, manifest green heads
\nand strong engaging trunks
\ncarpeted around by swirls of cow-trimmed grass.
\nThe river was wide, smooth, inviting\u2014
\nso easy to slip in
\nand drift away downstream.<\/p>\n
The water was cool, quenching skin’s heat;
\nthe sky was blue as a lover’s eyes:
\none could fall up into a lover’s eyes
\nundistracted by swimming, not hearing
\nthe soft purring downstream
\nknowing but not knowing
\nthe speeding current
\ncaressing gently then
\nclutching with icy fingers
\nthe swimmer’s heart.<\/p>\n
White water slapped
\nthe swimmer’s eyes too late:
\nthe driving sluices sucked all
\nbetween the jagged boulders
\nbruising, shredding bone, gouging flesh\u2014<\/p>\n
II<\/p>\n
They met on a dance floor:
\nhe was consulting his watch,
\nheading for the office
\nto call the agency;
\nshe was the DJ
\nand she was late.
\nHe was struck by her terrifed pale blue eyes;
\nshe bathed in his patient understanding.<\/p>\n
[print_link]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I The sky above the valley would have been difficult in a jigsaw puzzle: blue with occasional puffs of cloud. The slope down was an artist’s dream: sturdy trees, manifest green heads and strong engaging trunks carpeted around by swirls … Continue reading