PURTON COLLIER, GLOUCESTERSHIRE...

Purton Collier…

Daubed black,

Like military infiltrators,

Soot-encrusted bargemen hovered;

Expressionless, gawping eyes

Blinked mechanically,

As the mission slithered silently, stalling on tide.

Minds slack,

Like spectral traders,

Grime-encrusted coalmen wavered;

Hopeless, gaping eyes

Gazed abjectly,

As the launch angled inexorably to Severn’s side.

Splintering crack,

Like slaveman’s whip,

Filth-encrusted vessel gouged;

Featureless, shattering prow

Beached firmly,

As its hulk, embedded deeply, salvaged minimal pride.

Changing tack,

Like lost souls,

Smut-encrusted wraiths disembarked, 

Aimless, scaling prow,

Searched vainly,

As their culture evanesced, indiscernibly, their immortality cruelly denied…

Pete Ray

Maybe the resting place of a barge which carried coal to Cadbury’s, Birmingham. 

I was reminded of the landing craft used on D-Day & the coalmen were the infantrymen… 

Perhaps…