Sweet Thames Run Your Black Water Softly Poem by Palitha Ranatunge

Sweet Thames, Run Your Black Water Softly
It was the time, flower petals circling up high in the air
Dancing like thousands of butterflies - a little Tornado
That carries dead flowers on the street
And lowering on the parking lane. An ambush of one thousand
Pinkish birds, more flowers blooming! More flowers gliding,

My friend can you lower the heater down!
It is hot in Tottanham, Broad Lane, N 15 4DW,
Summer again! Lilies grow on the pavement
Who has said, Dick Whittington?
I am sure he was! Late Lord Mayor of London.
"Did you fax the Form to the Home Office;
Send the bill for a franchised claim; Why that girl
From Poland at the door …….. Agniesz kaKamiński? "
Olympian Capitol of a justice league
Ancient mansion of ivory, long passages
Suffered the touch by the wisdom of Lords.
Justice, human senses and rights,

Kudirat Ransome - Kuti, with her walking stick at my desk
Hello, darling! When is my hearing at Royal Courts?
Oh! My son has been waiting in Lagos,
I am in haste to get him in, since I could not go
Either; now, look, I hated this delay at Croydon; now
There will be an appeal, can you end this?
I only handle costing, would you mind talking
To the gentleman, over there, Please.
Oops! Who you said at the door!
And who kept my table at the door, while working
On XL pages I was continuously looking out
For the flowers rolling and landing
Up, up, up and down and up and down, down and down
I like sometimes shortest rains pouring
Sparkling ice needles on my face
One million at a time when I walk,

When I was busy with XL pages I could see
The snow falling, flower gangs strolling - in summer
I only handle costing! But she is at the door
Like a duck billed platypus:

Lara Antipova, Anna Karanina, Vera and
Lizaveta Ivanovnaand now she was, Agnieszka Kaminishka,
A Polish - I read the brief in a lonely docket
At the office, not in my section, I handle only costing
Sam & Co. at Tottenham Court Road- Tube train,
I dare not cross, morning traffic was stunning!

One stout dark lady with a funny cap, shouts
"Beware! Lord Jesus is coming! " Red lights blinking
Pave the way for My Lord!

"He or She is outside of their own country,
Filled with a well-founded fear that they will face
Persecution because of their race, religion,
Nationality membership of a social group or
Political opinion; and cannot, or will not,
Rely on protection by the country of their origin"

My child you have sinned to come here.

I couldn't see Him except a flock of school children
Fresh and beautiful, May God's blessings be on you!
Let me cross the road, she was on the zebra lane.
Mr. Sam, These double decker buses were to blame,
All for the "Big Bus Company"- only for sightseeing, not for
Working class to travel; travelling by bus was cost cutting
- HSMP, a special species of migrants.

"Poly, Poly, Poly, did you eat the peanut?
A green parrot, lost its path in the air and was landed
At my window, Poly's feathers were cut, prevent
To flying back to the green trees and mates.
Is it only within a violation of right to flying?

It was winter then, when read about her plight in
Poland, billing for every letter, petition and an
Affidavit, final touch for the bread winning cheer
From the Legal Aids - Home Office vs Sam & Co.
I was curious to see her face, for no photograph
In the docket.
European Convention on Human Rights!
I am tired, past is dead, I am a distant relative of
Phoenix bird. To be re -born on my cremation.
"What is the purpose of your visit? "
I am a HSMP and have no purpose.
I wonder where the red carpet is.

Alice can I shout now like you did then?
"Who cares about you?
You are nothing but a pack of cards"
Did she? Yes, she did and the Queen fled in fear!
Or she woke up?
BFG, please catch another good one for her.

Have the all nymphs departed?
Sweet Thames, run your black water softly,

It was a fantasy, she was a perfect beauty
But weary in face like any migrant, and scared
Before unknown judgments of the tribunal
Of a deporting order back to Eastern- Europe
She went back unnoticing her admirer
At the adjacent table - a costing expert
Pretending engaged in cost accounting
Like a coldest white bellied pumpkin!

The nymph has departed, having left no sign,
Sweet Thames, run your black water softly,

And indeed there will be no time
To conclude, ‘Do I dare? or ‘Do I care"
Time to get up and climb the wall,
With the bald spot in the middle of my hair -

Looking at the cold rain where the flower
Fiesta was? When walking over muddy pavement
Following morning with shivering jaws
Trembling knuckles,
Damp dead flowers lay unnoticed by the cleaners
Aha! An unnoticed flower petal on my shoe
Accompanied me into the office
Hello Mr. Sam, Hello Ann, Hello John, hello all!
Books and briefs on the shelves, also my hidden
Poetry in my desktop written when I was dull,

Hello, hello, hello, Greetings! For the season.
Hello, this is Sam & Co. may I help you
Are you from Poland, Turkey, Syria or Somalia?
Well, I only handle costing, I can, I can't
Of course yes, we have, we have
Franchise. May I give you an appointment?
10 O'clock, a week after tomorrow!

Wonderland has changed to dull reality
- the rattling teacups have changed
to tinkling sheep-bells,
the sneeze of the baby has changed
to a shriek of Gryphon
and the Queen's shrill cries has changed
to a voice of a shepherd boy.

The short summer surprised me
Unreal City.
Big bus circling having no one on the top.
Walk briskly ‘cos cold will catch you
Like an omnipresent sickened ghost.
The nymph has departed, having left no sign,
Sweet Thames, run your black water softly...