THE LISTENER

      THE LISTENER       TIM WILLIAMS     28TH DECEMBER 2014

THE FISHERMAN STANDS AT THE MOUTH OF THE ESTUARY,
WHERE ALL THE BEST STORIES PASS BY, THE FAINT ECHO
OF THEM NETTED , KEPT PRISONER, IN THE FISHERMANS CREEL,
ALL THE TALES WILL BE LISTENED TO, ONCE AT THE FIRE SIDE,
FABLES OF TREACHERY,  TORMENT AND TRUTH,
OF MURDER, MISCHEIF AND MOTHERS RUIN,
AND WHO IS SEEING WHO, BEYOND CHAPEL EARSHOT,
OTHER SUCH MYSTERIES OF LOCAL INTEREST,   HELLFIRE .

WHEN THEY DANCED, SHE RUBBED TOO CLOSE TO HIS BONES,
THEY WERE NOT HER'S TO KINDLE IN SUCH A WAY,
NOT HER'S TO RESURRECT FIRES LONG AGO TURNED TO ASHES,
WHAT HIS WIFE THOUGHT WAS NOW DRAWING CHARCOAL
HAD NOW BEEN RE-BORN, LIKE A PHEONIX RE-BORN,
FROM THE DUST OF LONG LOST MEMORIES,
LIKE VIPERS WRIGGLING FREE OF CONFINES AND CORNERS,
THIS JUST THE FIRST OUT OF THE CREEL, A MERMAID'S GOSSIP.

ON SECOND CAST OF HIS NET INTO THE WHISPERING WATERS,
AN OLD MAN BEWHISKERED AND THOUGHTFUL COUNTS,
COUNTS AND TALLEY'S,COUNTS AND CALCULATES,
HIS PIE TOBACCO SMOKE OBSCURES THE THOUGHTS THAT
REGISTER IN HIS EYE'S FOR THE CORMORANTS TO SEE,
ALMOST A POUND FOR EVERY COCKLESHELL HIS WIFE
HAD EVER PICKED,STACKED, STARING BACK LIKE
DEAD FISH EYE'S, BUT FROM WHERE THE TREASURE ?

ALL NIGHT THE STORIES TELL THEMSELVES
YOU MAY THINK THIS A FAVOURABLE PASSTIME,
A FINE AFFAIR, AN INSIGHT INTO OTHERS LIVES,
BUT NO,  IT IS A BURDEN TO BE A LISTENER,
TO UNBURDEN OTHERS , TO LISTEN AND YET NOT UTTER A SECRET,
NOT EVEN A WORD, JUST LISTEN SHHHH , LISTEN NOW.