ST. IVES, CORNWALL, TIDAL EQUATIONS, 2012

4 7 R S T . I V E S , C O R N W A L L , T I D A L E Q U A T I O N S , 2 0 1 2 J O H N K I N S E L L A 1. Tide up across spring neck pincer of tide and wide wave riding high over sea defense to lash concrete and stone flail and scratch at windows rub rust into ballast wounds neap at adjustment as boats swirl to arrive or escape sun on clock-face and seaweed on walkways kinetic wrestling boat lifted from flanks bleeds runnels and shuddering pools keel-hauled over sandy bottom still as under-water we all see where so much recirculates single mast of beheaded ketch a recollection or maybe really there as a claim to act hoping to cut some slack bob out past lighthouse and seal pacts. 4 8 K I N S E L L A Y 2. Keels over settles refloats fetch contact stress point stuck and drowned as muddy hullabaloo below tide mark diggings castles moats estuaries plastic sharps the odd half of a bivalve goes and comes round returns what flow microclimates cases of faith jettisoned like sea burials where no definite articles take as keeling over varies by point of withdrawal an imbalance on deck an outboard motor tilted and favoring one side one angle of descent how it settles how a flotilla rests in absence of water as tide diminishes waves hammer planks and stress bodies of coming in never going out never. 3. Weighted to tilt on pivot fulcrum rest as our touch to open personal agendas of lunar stoppages a curve collapse to rest bell-rungs of mirror to silty undercurrents flurries in hardened light of day-tide rest of boats on one side whatever sludge or pristine aspiration they float upon cushions of tendency to rest on one side or another heart-side or breath checked by catamarans’ appearance of verticality when a wobble and pessimism play middleground stern directional favoring neither port nor starboard and charting less charting fewer hazards of buoyancy. 4. 5.30pm refloat Tip toe / head over heels stern to prow / fling of curve rapidly wax/ encircling wane S T . I V E S , C O R N W A L L , T I D A L E Q U A T I O N S , 2 0 1 2 4 9 R cut o√ / island diminishing Narcissus / refractors of sunshower to whittle / the field of play see weight / houses staggering upwards. 5. Sets of seven revivify collision. Smashers. Fugues. Corymbs. Strings. Contrapuntal formalism. 6. ‘‘Wreck of the Alba’’ – Alfred Wallis Barely clad on wreck beach coal sack To forth an island beacon break back Rescue to launch freak-out have a crack At lifting lifeboat and contents rock Teeth gnash a clutch of crew to mix a lock Of primordial rope swig a chalice or make Provenance sway beneath frothy lack Of walkable water as light smacks Porthmeor Beach we wander streets tight as decks No longer hold sky and sea and land in racks But swinging nooses to keep back Coils of ropey ocean reaching up to hack The waste of icons made flashback Rescued to cite flotation to save all necks. ...