The Slavers Legacy

Brunel's bridge gleams and the Avon sparkles
darkness of trees, glisten of mud-flats
a delightful prospect
gives way to sharp-thorned thickets,
ooze seeping over shoes then ankles

Scouting past territories, aspidistra, jutting ensigns
sniffing under mouldy blankets
DHL delivers an iron-bound oak chest
sea-salt, sweet sweet sugar
weighted shackles, glisten blood, guilt-edged

Raising ships on a slow haul-up, lowering mains'ls
jaunty swung lead by nut-gnarled jack-tars
harried haul, their cargo running
secret tunnels beneath my feet, the tarmac
squeezing words hot, glistening, tainted, black
I falter in my brand new Nikes