R. D. Wood
melting ice –
thunderstorm
then water came;
through the flood
into the fish –
dreamproof skiffs
scale and fist
water came, water
the dolphins dart
but sea still is, fire red,
sea.)
in the skiff
flood does not believe us
the towropes vulturegrip
fish
to a sea, drinks it
the salt of a co-
in the wrinkled flood
the ropes, salt-water-clammy
greybacked, seaworthy
minnows
three standing whales
the sacrificecall, the saltflood
salthorizons
musselheap: with
pearls
storm riddled
raincord breaking
to the harbour
the swimming mourning-domain
through which we swam, two dreams now, tolling
we swam, naked, swam
R. D. Wood first came to Martin Harrison’s work via his criticism and essays. Wood edits for Peril and hosts a reading series with The School of Life. Find out more at www.rdwood.org