THE WATER OF LIFE
The Castle a land locked ship sulking
in silhouette through a
curtain of mist
Aspiration thwarted as it pushes forward
to the unattainable
never to know the River's swell and list
A jealous eye cast on ships that came to port
Royal Fort then but no graces to show
as gun ports spat smoke with fiery rage aglow
Echoes of soldiers' feet tramping her stones
The whispering wind mimics the prisoners' groans
An old lady now but working days not done
the footfall of Actors now tramping her stairs
No more ships unloading their wares
Oysters and lobsters and fish of all kinds
Gleaming and glistening kissed by the sun
Little boats skipping and dipping 'til day is done
The River in retreat its secrets laid bare
Splashing seabirds harvest their share
At Blackness-on-Sea the creels of yesteryear wash ashore
to settle at the Blackness Lobster Pot's door
Mermaids and dolphins welcome the traveller here
Leave for a moment the world of strife
find good fare and drink from the water of life.