Rowing home to a schooner in the river Dart at dawn

Fat lazy salty whore
Rolls brassily into the river’s gob.

Under a counterpane of mist
A blanket of oak cloaks the valley
Down to limpet-acned rocks
Teased… by the lardy tarts petticoats.

On, in, the swell diminishes to lap.
Fox and otter quarter the shore

Working boats steam seaward
Gulls dogging ploughed wakes.
Sip and plat of the oars
As they turn the meaty water like spaded sods.