Rivering: The Poetry of Daphne Marlatt

Marine, ah

Marine ah body of water you came wet you come reaches of the sea through metropolis mother tide docked and watermark culture your first growth log saloon hotel boots you sideslip keels to dwell in habit streets you lap you shine rain’s anterior headturner albedo gleam unfurled small arm of the sea fringed infringed by dockside gantry cranes Beacon K-line rolling stock she current with spirit or energy a lot more than objects mirrors dazzle creek wise or riverine with its tip to art deco sign Rainier’s all-woman character once restaurant-bar its taxi stand for 1920s black maria lineup long skirt straw hat thought of entrance later 40s girl shoeshine smile to his pervasive business shoe his liquid lunch in the ell bo hail below she fur b’lows in cars later incurs hardly a culture of safety these liquid assets about to drain the real estate cult she streams through outfall tidal muck harbour rain striated heart ’n all its submerged relations mourning what can’t be replaced the rift the mind cracks in the carefully patterned concrete still Muriel mar a sign the rain’s a place where hope comes mildewed maybe rusted fire escape impossible routes gnarl up through grime to white full shine in her elle ll a live oh 60 / Rivering ...