Clouds are not solid,
floating, less dense than we are,
but obscure the sun
and when the floods come
we abandon cars, roads, work
and fun in the fields.
Weather forecasters
remove surprise, the suspense,
maybe joy of life
and never promise
rainbows. They cannot believe
in the crock of gold,
don't tell us to dig
to plan for our next year's crop.
Water's possibly
the chatter of the British
who fear rain and flood,
none of them as bad
as Caribbean hurricanes.
We like safe water,
bottled water, hot water
and short.cold splashes,
always in moderation,
to be clean, healthy.
Dangerous whirlpools,
they spin, they sweep and destroy;
try a Jacuzzi,
tempting, with controlled hot fun -
that's how to relax.
Saunas give calm cleanliness,
sleazy indolence.
Dirty work has left
our Birmingham canals, now
cleaned up for pleasure:
to be serious
Birmingham needs a river,
not the dribbling Rea -
where no gondolas can sail
and no Brummies sing.
