The Glittering Sea

THE GLITTERING SEA

I dreamed I fell from the highest building,

but that highest building was me.

For my work took me to the ninetieth floor

down by the glittering sea.

My sweetheart said, “Don’t go in today,

just snuggle up close to me.”

I said, “Sweet, you’re naughty to say such a darling thing,

but I’m saving for you and me.”

She said, “Tell your boss you’re sick or so,

we’ll lie in a little bit more.”

But I sighed and slipped into my clothes

and out of our bedroom door.

She turned to the wall and closed her eyes

but didn’t sleep in for long.

She woke to a blaze of TV news,

and remembered where I’d gone.

Oh! please, dear God, make me late for work

down by the glittering sea.

Let some minor incident slow my train

to those canyons down by the sea.

I dreamed I fell from the highest building,

but that highest building was me.

For my work took me to the ninetieth floor

by the glittering, glittering sea.

——————————————————————————-

BICYCLE ON ICE

Got home late 

calvados in the tapas bar

was to blame 

it was drizzling ice 

a cold mist 

rose from the freezing waters

of the Brouwersgracht

a gleaming skin of skid

on hump-backed bridges

I saw 

a young woman on her bike 

swivel in a dazzling unplanned

piece of figure-skating 

from vertical 

to horizontal

some rode to rescue her 

not a wise move so it proved

bikes spreadeagled on a street of glass

like a heap of the slain

others wavering in pure good will

did their best just standing still 

call me deserter if you like 

I crawled back on hands and knees 

dragging bike 

like a stubborn dog

clung to parapet with one hand

bike with other

almost wrapped around myself

but how to move when move meant slide

trying to push myself and bike

at the same time forward

alcohol was my wheels

trepidation did the splits

who knows how I made it home 

slept like a frozen doorstep

bike steaming in its shed

old nag stabled at last