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Breath & Shadow

Summer 2022 - Vol. 19, Issue 3

"Dordogne"

written by

Christian Ward

I am squatting on the riverbank, watching

you fish for rainbow trout. Six years old.


Handling the line like a violinist, you pluck

away with each vibration, picturing the surface


of the water as a composition unraveling

each note and quaver. Your daughters


are downstream, catching minnows in jam

jars. Shrinking like Hughes’ pike, soon


they will be part of the river while you

are lost amongst the grasses, feeling


the riverbed for signs of a sure footing

even though it’s 2021 and Dordogne


has been reduced to something that slips

out while trying to remember a familiar


tune to distract from the shaking teacup

and spilt sugar.



Previously published in Wilda Morris’ Poetry Challenge

Christian Ward is a UK-based writer who can be currently found in Wild Greens, Cold Moon Review, Discretionary Love and Chantarelle's Notebook. Future poems will be appearing in Dreich, Uppagus, Impspired and Spry.

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