Of late, there have been rumours of fish,
of local evolution, of regeneration.
They say rusted cans have transformed,
grown fins, heroin holes for gills.

I’ve heard the pram, once prominent
as a fountain, is now spurting forth
at regular intervals, blowing its top
like a drunken whale, emerging at night

as the willows lean in to listen - such
learned trees. Murmurs of mattresses
shifting like sandbanks, carrying dead
dogs to the edge, clearing its depths.

All rumours of course: today strolling
past the bandstand with no band, I see
the willows idle, strumming the surface;
a lone fisherman with a net-full of beer.

Bravo Kris. An eloquent comment on Man's manipulation of Nature. I'll be back to read this again.

Much to enjoy in this, not the least of which is the dead dogs and shore shifting mattresses.  We punctuate a bit differently; I'd biff a semi for a comma early on . . . but this works regardless.  Don't quite get heroine holes but don't feel like I must. 

Much enjoyed.  Look forward to more from your pen.

lynn

Lynn pointed out the word heroin - and I see another facet to this poem. Reformed addict strolls familiar paths or the contemplation of a plunge into heroin's depths?

I don't know but it's vivid and enjoyable.

Some interesting stuff in here. I'd biff the stuff that beckons interpretation, like L4. Let the stanza end on transformed, and so on...

Ahh yes Heroin(e) heroin

Heroin users often use coke (other fizzy drinks can be applied) cans to "chase the dragon" "cook up" etc.

It's my attempt at an ecological satire!

thanks for you interest...

I'll post a few queries on what is and isn't accepted etc, simply because I'm used to a strict regime, this seems dare I say, laid back? I'm liking it...

Nice...

Somebody pick this for godssake-- I read this once properly, and then listened while the sounds told the story the second time. Bravo!

Take care,

-O

A hard pick this week.....lots of great new stuff - but this caught my eye

a nice offering from a new voice to grace the front page....xo M

ps.  I do agree though that some of the semi colons could go and become commas or in one case I think maybe a colon?  regardless, a great piece though....

Cool, many thanks.

Yes I am slapdash with colons and semis, in truth I don't think I really know how to use them, must brush up.

Eats, shoots ;and leaves.

thanks again for the feature

cheers
Kris

Congrats!

I'd missed this, Kris, so I'm very delighted for it to have been brought to my attention on the front page. It earns the spot.

Cheers

milner

well played

Woah, excellent pick. And that's gotta be a record right, for nabbing front page so quick? Well deserved.
Missed it first time round so thanks Michelle for putting it up.
Really enjoying your work Kris, and hope you stick around.

B.

Congrats Kris, and welcome to the site.  Very much enjoyed your poem. 

D

What a pleasant surprise to find this on the Front Page.

Nice, Kris.

Maggie

Wonderful. A joy to read. So much memorable stuff here. The mattresses shifting like sandbanks with the dead dogs, both beautiful and harrowing.

Just received the email regarding the PoetryCircle anthology.

It would be an honour and a privilege to be included.

I've been published twice before, both in dire anthologies (and yes I purchased them both) ahhh the pull of ego and the stupidity of a teen angst poet!

Great idea, look forward to it.

Do I have to buy it? cause I ain't.

Cheers
Kris

I propose that Kris is ruled out of appearing in the anthology if he doesn't start posting here again on a regular basis. ;)

Where you been dude?

B.

Ha ha,

Well I'll post my latest attempt and then you'll see why...

I'm sure it'll be no worse than the current crop of shite. Go on lad, stick your hand back in the bucket.

B.