Page 36 - Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright

APRIL
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MISSISSIPPI ALLIGATOR
L i k e a l u m p y l o g o n t h e l i m p i d r i v e r,
floating near greenforest bank,
pushingstring-weed withashiver,
whereferns drip heavy withthe da mp;
Mississippi alligator,
onthe moveagain.
Summerrain makeswaterpatterns,
turning,swinging water-wheels.
Roundthe houseboat’sswayinglanterns
m ot h s a r e d a n ci n g I ri s h r e el s;
Mississippi alligator,
onthe moveagain.
Underneaththe harvest moon,
rabbits’ whiskerstwitchandquiver.
Silent motioninthegloom,
breaksreflections ontheriver;
Mississippi alligator,
onthe moveagain.
Robin Mellor
THE ALLIGATOR
Thealligatorchased histail
W hi c h hit hi m o n t h e s n o ut;
He nibbled, gobbled, s wallo wedit,
Andturnedrightinside-out.
Mary Macdonald
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