EROSION
At Mappleton the road© GERALD ENGLAND
runs right on over the edge
of the crumbling cliff which
the grey foam of a sulky, green sea
continually devours.
Remaining are outline foundations
of houses now removed
to safer places farther inland.
Much farther inland are the huge
Holderness haystacks - built
four-square and solid -
topped by thatched-type roofs
held down by building bricks.
More building bricks and concrete
form suburban Hull in whose
outer housing estates we loose
ourselves among winding drives.
The farmer ploughs his fertile land
and builds his stacks of hay
but they are not defense enough
against the nibbling encroachments
of erosion on either side
from the city and the sea.
Composed: Oldham, 1st October 1976
Publications
1984 Weyfarers (UK)
1990 2nd Rapture (UK)
1992 STEALING KISSES (Hyde, New Hope International)
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