Tin Can Island

Between jute mills
and the Queen Mary's bowels
in the Book of Wonder,

a yellowed inlet
in photogravure:
boats bobbing,

a scoop net at work,
and cans on the water
all over the Pacific:

a philatelic novelty
and the world merely
a first-day-cover;

a tramp steamer
lies at anchor
and silverfish

nudge the image
of an island's image
where letters arrive

rusted and salt
with the tang
of baking-powder.

– 11 –

Ghost Ships

If you look out at first light
you'll see on the harbour
the ships of our history
called back to life
by the sun's rekindling;
at dawn they discharge
guilty cargoes: ballast
spills in a gravelly bay,
musket cases, bayonets
wrapped in oilcloth,
are stacked on the shore.

There's a figure on the deck
dressed in serge, a high-
winged collar censures
his vision; he's taking the air
and whatever else
he can lay his hands on.