Fishermen
the fishermen are patient
their lines settle in clear water
their wide-brimmed hats
will keep off
everything
on the boulevards meantime
carriages come and go
they carry
doctors to quiet basements
and children to circuses
music masters to doleful violins
and lovers to strange ceremonies
of whalebone and gardenias
the fishermen are unimpressed
over clear water
where the rod’s end dances
the world is almost
under control
and everything that matters
is just
about to happen
Alasdair Paterson from Strictly Private
