north - new poem continued

Here is some more from the new poem I'm currently calling north. Previous sections here and here.

we understood

the water

jesus

walked on was

shallow

narrow

a stream with rocks in it.

faintly

bleeding nicks

between fingers

from the grass.

nettle-stings

in groups

white spots.

empty

polish ex-servicemen's

club

and before that

a church

brick flakes

on the pavement

below

the wall.

newspaper

rolled to pulp

in the road.

city's edge

ponds and footpaths

trees

whatever industry

was here

overgrown.

a dog

runs up to

a man walking

some way behind

then away

called back

by its owner.

traffic lights change

in the absence

of cars.

there are no people here.

the grass

can be mown as late

as november

as early as march

if it's not

too damp.

.