The Strid

The Strid Get rid of the Strid with its seething torrent trapped amid the caves In downward spiral coursing through a web of underwater stone Oh that the river would have carved a safer way away from occulted potholes Shame on its dogged passage that prefers the dangerous route It could have chosen a placid path amid a tranquil retreat Where solace is found amongst much safer depths But retain the bowing trees that stand around and cast a shade With hanging boughs for birds to alight and sing their song Strange river that aspires to stream again to squeeze into the narrow A tempting bubbling brook that bluffs its onlooker Mere stride to other side in gleeful daring That tests the balance on slippery verge and rock And Strid becomes the stride to play the waiting game Thus claim ill fated darers that slip into its frothy forbode With smothering aqueous wings dragged into caverns Where infinite to remain and forever retained In a murky swathe of peaty chambers yet to be discovered Where amongst its conquests a would be king Rules amid the Strid’s palatial watery kingdom