It is autumn in the land of appearances.
Film sets are being taken down.
To the south, the audience
diminishes to haze.
Out beyond the Heads, the crash of guns.
Shore batteries, defend us!
Ships of every nation
have come to take our lamb.
A broadside works wonders.
We rush out in our dinghies.
If you are dismasted, take my life-raft.
Take my rubber ring, my hand.
Credit note: "Appearances" was first published in Bravado 7, July 2006.
Tim says: This poem has nothing to do with Christmas, except that I wrote it during my Christmas holidays a few years back, walking south along the ridge from Seatoun and looking at ships steaming into Wellington Harbour past the old gun emplacements.
You can check out all the Tuesday Poems on the Tuesday Poem Blog - this week's hub poem in the centre of the page, and all the other Tuesday Poems on the right.
20 December 2011
Tuesday Poem: Appearances
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10 comments:
It's always good to read your poetry, Tim. All the best for Christmas and the New Year.
Thank you, Harvey - and the same to you, Latika and your family. Looking forward to some productive & enjoyable writing discussions in the New Year!
The line "the audience diminishes to haze" lept at me. Wonderful. Have a safe holiday.
Thanks, Orchid - and you, too!
Such a great start to a poem!
Anyway just popping by to say festive greetings and cheers for all the great poetry this year. PS I still need my book signed :)
Thanks, AJ! We should find a way of remedying that lack-of-signature problem - maybe it's time I paid a little visit to Eastbourne?
I can see the contemplative Christmas-New Year meditation in this poem, though - perhaps unconscious? Looking forward to more of your poetry next year, Tim. Merry Christmas!
Thanks, Elizabeth - Merry Xmas to you!
Love those gun emplacements! Merry Xmas, Tim.
Thanks, Helen - and I wish you a very Merry Xmas and, I hope, I well-deserved break!
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