PARADISE LOST

posted in: Member Writing Features, Poetry | 2

By Jenny Macaulay.    

 

The squelch of her boot

the left then the right

the decay of seagrass that lines the shore

like ropes of filthy foam from an outgoing tide.

 

She steps over those ridges of strangled syringes

of nylon line and bleached fish bones

the latter a memory of a time

when the sea sustained edible life.

 

A hovercraft disgorges its passengers

like maggots emerging from the carcass

of roadkill.

They are swept away to their inland hotels

 

Away from the stench of the coastline

that oozes and globulates

around the debris

of times gone by.

 

She whistles the dog

coughs… and heads home

before the stink of the sun…

and she thinks of frogs.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jenny facilitates fiction, non-fiction, poetry and drawing groups, encouraging people to come together and share their creative skills. She recently established the Portarlington Haiku Society, an enthusiastic group which, together, is learning about the simplicity, yet complexity, of this short poetry form. A retired teacher, Jenny is keen to promote and maintain an interest in creative writing among other retirees as a form of enjoyable social interaction without any excessive literary expectations.

2 Responses

  1. Guenter

    Wow, what imagery! A bleak and foreboding poem, and hopefully one that will create enough stench for our political decision-makers to finally take immediate action. (A virtual hug to you Jenny.)

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