Moving Stillness (at Rye Harbour Discovery Centre)

BEN FAIRLIGHT

Heron and Egret pin the in-flowing shallows,

Wait and watch for the right wiggle

In water and ripple.

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Yellow-speared grey, black-spiked white,

Unruffled statues on shimmering swirls.

Water and ripple wait and watch Heron and Egret.

Minutes go by, gallons go by.

Minutes, gallons.

Heron stabs, misses, Egret stabs, catches

Silver – tosses and swills lithe silver.

Poise returns.

Minutes, gallons.

Heron jabs – at Egret. Egret 

Shifts one yellow-wellied leg, then stabs – 

And catches more silver. Heron

Has had enough; Egret’s sent flapping.

Two stilted quick-steps, a stab – and wriggling silver 

Dangles from Heron’s yellow scissors. A flip and a long 

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Slow throaty swallow. A splash of water 

To help it down.

Statue reinstated.

So pass minutes, gallons,

A whole tide.


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https://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/literature.jpghttps://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/literature.jpgHIPLiteraturePoetryBEN FAIRLIGHTMoving Stillness (at Rye Harbour Discovery Centre) BEN FAIRLIGHT Heron and Egret pin the in-flowing shallows, Wait and watch for the right wiggle In water and ripple. Yellow-speared grey, black-spiked white, Unruffled statues on shimmering swirls. Water and ripple wait and watch Heron and Egret. Minutes go by, gallons go by. Minutes, gallons. Heron stabs, misses, Egret stabs, catches Silver...The Hastings & St Leonards non-profit community newspaper