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--chosen-work--
Watten
Orange sinks behind the poplars
shadows reach across the water
diesel engines cough cut out
barges moor up for the night
resting for some days at Watten
after weeks of midi sun
falling slightly short of Dunkerque
peaceful on the camping site
Tree-tops curtsey in he forest
as the TGV swoops past
tomorrow's running in the woodland
for this year will be the last
Eperlecques once housed a dragon
hidden deep in concrete caves
meant to cast fire over London
tended by a host of slaves
So many thousands served the dragon
many of them died in vain
many thousands died in making
Watten shades are mostly lifted
people do not live in fear
fans of Lens or Lille or bikers
Flanders food and Belgian beer
Watten is not always sad
there are festivals and fetes
..........
I see Eperlecques and Watten
always in the afternoon as
shadows reach across the water
it is always in late August
it is always autumn soon
in Watten it was always August
always late in afternoon
always sombre autumn looming
always bitter winter soon