Original poem, inspired by a pub in Rotherhithe of that name; written during Covid-19 lockdown

Wagner, Erica

English

Goldsmiths Research Online

Wagner, Erica. 2020. The Ship Aground. The New Statesman, United Kingdom. [Other]http://research.gold.ac.uk/28718/The version presented here may differ from the published, performed or presented work. Pleasego to the persistent GRO record above for more information.If you believe that any material held in the repository infringes copyright law, please contactthe Repository Team at Goldsmiths, University of London via the following email address:gro@gold.ac.uk.The item will be removed from the repository while any claim is being investigated. Formore information, please contact the GRO team: gro@gold.ac.ukThe ship aground   We have come over Tower Bridge over the river’s silver over basculed stone, steel and we have curved, curled toward St Saviour’s Dock, where monks walked, where Sikes fell, where now the narrow streets are silent in sunlight in high blue where old poverty meets new money where I am newly free on two wheels new swift curling, curving over cobble and tarmac past the brick-built pub just up  from the water’s edge.  The ship aground: mullioned windows, darkened glass, St George’s flag still pinned by the pitch of the red-tiled roof, the ship aground cast up here on this shore of spring breeze and birdsong, anchored in shadow, the ship aground in lockdown, beerless beacon of better days, hithe as haven, holding all still till the tide turns and we pilgrims balanced at the water’s edge can  unfurl our sails, can set out for what we will call the new world.         — Erica Wagner, May 2020 

The Ship Aground

https://research.gold.ac.uk/28718/1/Wagner%2C%20E.%20%282020%29%20The%20ship%20aground_AAM.pdf

The Ship Aground

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