Title: The River at Cramond
Author: Aileen Ballantyne
Number: 76/100
Allocated postcode: EH4
The River at Cramond
The interest on my mortgage preys on my mind
as I gaze at the River Almond:
a town river with a purpose,
as brown as its name,
chemicals effervescing at its weir.
To the side, at a glance:
shredded ends of white plastic.
Clearer, in focus,
feathers puffed out:
a heron, drying.
Cragged head
scanning side to side.
Quiet, for minutes.
We wait.
Cartoon-book pages flick
in animated time:
great wings outstretched,
up the riverbank.
And I follow on the path-side,
searching, calculating,
dividing
by one now
not two.
I stretch out my arms
to fly with you,
tucked beneath your wing,
hoping the book
will flick open once more
at the page
where we saw the heron.
[...] by Chris Lindores No. 74: Walls by Fiona Morrison No. 75: Where it lies by Struan Robertson No. 76: The River At Cramond by Aileen Ballantyne No. 77: John Knox’s Grave by Aileen Ballantyne No. 78: Cables by Kate Charles No. 79: Mary [...]
[...] Dave is always a confident and funny performer and didn’t disappoint. He was followed by Aileen Ballantyne, who read a series of serious political pieces, and then by Natalia Herrero — it was her [...]
[...] audiences. The third sets were provided by Rob A Mackenzie, our very own Claire (standing in for Aileen Ballantyne who also sadly couldn’t make it in the end), Christine de Luca and “>Chris Lindores. [...]
[...] by Chris Lindores No. 74: Walls by Fiona Morrison No. 75: Where it lies by Struan Robertson No. 76: The River At Cramond by Aileen Ballantyne No. 77: John Knox’s Grave by Aileen Ballantyne No. 78: Cables by Kate Charles No. 79: Mary [...]