Wednesday 2 July 2014

MARY SHELLEY ON BROUGHTY FERRY BEACH


MARY SHELLEY ON BROUGHTY FERRY BEACH
Robert Crawford


One small boat tugs the enormous corpse inshore
Towards waiting locals. A lad opens up its mouth
And wades inside, clutching a flensing tool
For blubber. Piece by hacked off piece


Men deconstruct the outcast zeppelin body,
Carting lumps back to beachfront cottages -
Sturdy food and good oil for the winter.
Harpoons glint in the candlelight.


Safe home, the men of Broughty Ferry take
Their sweet uncorseted wifes to bed, or croon
Shanties to bairns beside toys made of teeth.
The Tay flows quiet. Dundee’s lights wink their yellow.


A sad girl walks from the beach, carefully picking
Her steps as she sneaks past a leftover eye
Flung on the sand, and other small last bits
Of monster littering the promenade.




Description: Pinned to a long wooden beam at the foot of a fence beside the Dundee Sailing Club building. A suitably gothic mansion can be seen on the rise in the background.
Geotag co-ords: 56.468369, -2.899381
Date: 1.07.14


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