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Swans; Black dog, grey muzzle

Robyn Lance

Jul 01 2013

1 mins

Swans

 

2s

in black tutus

part strobed water.

 

 

Black dog, grey muzzle

pads rough ground

plough-ridged

stony, sharp

drops head

round and down

in seamless glide

so the back of his neck

brushes the ground

and inverts the spine

to lie, legs high

balls in an instant

with caterpillar squirm

and sidewise scrunch

flicks to stretch the inner side

and make it outer

rises, shakes and paces

on spindly legs

in the urgent glide

of a postulant

not yet rebuked for haste

until the urge demands

he writhe again

black dog, pink tongue

tracks scent trails

in grass, sticks, stones,

leaves, droppings, bones

scouts ahead

circles back

and keeps me moving

towards the gate

and home.

Robyn Lance

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