Anglers by Frances White

Arts Richmond

Online - 19 July 2020

ANGLERS 

At crack of dawn the boys wake me 
to drive them to the lake, 
eager to secure their fishing peg. 

Trolley loaded with rods and reels, 
they head off, tousled and hopeful. 
I follow the whiff of bait 
through blankets of mist 
under chestnut trees. 

They want me to go now 
leave them be, 
erecting their bivy in light rain. 
I scan the lake
listen for bird song. 

Waterlilies still closed 
a grey heron stalks the edge 
watching for prey. 
The peace is far too quiet, 
boys’ voices the only chorus. 

As morning untangles from night, 
a tall shape in waterproofs 
appears on the far side 
fixing his line with a lurid fly 
fancy as a sweet-wrapper. 

I stay my distance, 
rooted under willows, 
waiting for more evidence of day. 

 © Frances White

Frances White was a Teddington resident for over 40 Years. Several volumes of her moving and accessible poetry have been published. She dies of Motor Neurone Disease in 2018,

in collection, Swiftscape, by Frances White, 2016,
The Seventh Quarry Press, ISBN, 978-0-9935326-0-3