Floodgate
The first sight was a sound from a high valley
it didn’t know itself it curled around corners
a tree swayed gently and the water touched
the low branches first a gentle flow then faster
a double wave but no crest no breaking surf
it passed through in a minute maybe two
and left no trace no debris only I noticed
the windows shone brightly litter had vanished
beech leaves carried the green of early spring
and cowslips lifted their heads a little higher
I saw it all so much more clearly the grime
of ages the dirt on the lens all washed away
ink pellets no longer marking classroom walls
bright-eyed children breaking out of school
tugging at satchels laughing as they tussled
and the soldier in uniform outside the gate
handed his gun to the lollipop man together
they took the path to the low country to see
if the water had broken through the battle lines
eased the blood stains from the earth
Based now in Gloucestershire, Christopher Collier is an historian by training, a book publisher by career. He has done courses with Roddy Lumsden, Matthew Caley, Fiona Sampson and Philip Gross, among others. Highly commended in two King Lear competitions.