Greenlane Poetry

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
drowsy 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

At Eperlecques and in sad Watten
in those deadly days gone by


Eperlecques once housed a dragon
hidden deep in concrete stye
meant to cast fire over seas
died in fury from the sky

Watten now is never sad
people do not live in fear
fans of Lens or Lille or bikers
Flanders food and Belgian beer


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