in the midst of a spill

cold so very cold

those were not my words, he said

seepage across the pavement

damp dank depression

light airy cultural awareness

the canal is an industrial conduit

yet you treat it like a river

it is not

and you are not an intrepid explorer

just an alcoholic with a dog

and some memories

of a previous state

the river contains a residue

the past contains itself

in your blood river

flush yourself away today

on a wave of boozy irony

flake away the paint stained buttress

on your mock Tudor van

with chimney stack and

stained glass embellishment 

views across the tear stained tennis courts

your mind

a floatation tank

saltine saturated moraine

of mounting glacial flight

take it or leave

like it or lump it

choose to believe       jump into 

something new

you owe yourself a special offer today !