| Douglas Poole NEW ZEALAND Reclining Figures (Dedicated to the mighty Kaipara Harbour and Henry Moore) 1 Overnight High tide carved sheer faces across the coastline Left skeletal trees upright once more Marooned, bleached reclined figures against the Ink-streaked Manuka skyline Plangent winds sculpt dunescapes reduce headland blood-red clay to sand 2 Skeletons arise from shoreline death beds Tales of cut the anchor and run run the in-going tide Smashed Hulls Spanish Galleons Dutch, English traders Riding the channel bareback 3 The sea bed is cruel fate A sunken prehistoric Kauri forest, haunted Screaming lost mariners stumble, salt eye blind The mighty Kaipara Bar Harbinger of shipwreck 4 Low tide, I walk this ancient coastline In footsteps of Ancestors Mariners I feel you I hear you Tangata Whenua those who lived the Kaipara Pakeha those who died entering her 5 Now, resting I search Flotsam and jetsam spindle pieces Ovals with points Vertebrae and Knife edges Bleach boned Soul cleansed won Poem of the month with "Reclining figures" on "Poetry Downunder"
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