Will Vigar

More Grimsby stuff.  Not sure why Grimsby is holding a sudden fascination, but you go where the inspiration is, I guess.

FISH WIFE

He climbs from the deck

past reeking holds,

the choke of ammonia

and week old sweat

making him gack.

I see the skin on his palms

and fingers – torn and raw.

Capillaries broken,

in his fleshy cod cheeks,

from sub-arctic cold

and an over abundance

of rum.

He sees the note in hasty,

thready ink that condemns

the town and two

thousand boats.

He shudders,

shoulders jumping,

and I know he wishes

he’d listened at school.