December 20, 2009

Nana Ollerenshaw


WASHED UP


Everyone is staring at
the fishing boat washed up,
the bobcat, pumps and tug
waiting for high tide to pull it off.
Crowds can't know
the unexpected force that
washed the deckhand overboard.
His mates asleep below
could not have heard his cries,
the cold, the water's choke,
terror of what lies beneath,
unable to get back or even near
the cliffs of wooden planking,
fear, hoarse from shouting
seeing hope drift further
from the boat, alone
beyond a reach.

CP

Nana Ollerenshaw grew up in Connecticut, married an Australian, and moved to Australia in 1965. She changed from school teaching to nursing in 1988, and currently lives in Buderim on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland.

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