The Judges of Wandle River

A drizzle of midges 

acts as judges

to decide what's more

important. The birch 

tree with a cleaved off 

shoulder or pink nettle 

flowers huddled against 

the earth. Bells of white 

bindweed flowers or fallen 

leaves drenched in autumn. 

A scimitar-necked heron

or a robin burnt from staring 

at a red fox’s sunset coat. 

The wedding dress of a white 

shopping bag suspended 

above the river or the rising, 

purifying tide.