Travelling

by Aileen Paterson

on this cold day

on a barge where the stove is just heating up

and Giovanna’s wrapped in my green coat

and sat out front alone where ducks go by

and a cormorant

strayed from rocky shores

and I’m sipping coffee with John who is

writing everything down

and the sound of pen on paper is comforting

like our words are moving us along

and out back Bev steers and chats

with Debbie, Steve and Pat

and I clamber up into weak sunlight and smiles

from passers by who are not used to barges

or boats of any sort on this stretch of water

this neglected highway now only for joggers, dog walkers

and the trees reach out branches

as outstretched hands

and warehouses, churches, new flats pass by

until at last we arrive

back where we started

thrown ropes tied fast

held still, secure

in this gathering of souls