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.

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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 bridge

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