Natural Forces

By the dark cathedral
one day in mid December
the river turned tomato
on a bend in the brave Herault

You kissed me and made coffee
when I told you
that we might be
set for a bumpy ride

So I doubled up our lines
winding anchor chain
round lamp posts
biting lip as the waters rose

Then we held each other tight
counting logs and cars and trees
killer islands of debris
rushing past the portholes all night