Ode to Sluice
I heard the Town Crier shout The Sluice is on the loose! When last seen was standing On the banks of the Great Ouse I raced along the riverbank And found the lonely Sluice Staring in thoughtful silence at the waters of the Great Ouse What is your mis
I heard the Town Crier shout
The Sluice is on the loose!
When last seen was standing
On the banks of the Great Ouse
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I raced along the riverbank
And found the lonely Sluice
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Staring in thoughtful silence
at the waters of the Great Ouse
What is your mission Sluice?
Why are you standing here?
You have got to have a purpose
But to me it is not clear.
Can you be a radio telescope?
So that we can track the stars
Or perhaps to confirm
That there really is life on Mars
But you may be a NASA vehicle
to take us deep into outer space
so we can ponder in wonder
the origins of the human race
But Sluice spoke not a word
Not a sound did the structure utter
It left me in confusion
to make enquiries at the Cutter
What is this structure stranger
I ask a person standing nearby
Why is the lonely Sluice over there
pointing toward the sky?
He turned away without a look
And deigned me no reply
Leaving me in puzzlement
To stare and wonder why
If Sluice had a pair of feet
it suddenly occurred to me
we could go off together
foot-sluice and fancy free.
But yet to me it is all a puzzle
Why Sluice is standing there
The reason for its artistic existence
Is simply far from clear
So Sluice I say this to you
Tho citizens of Ely do wince
May angels take you to your rest
Sleep tight my inanimate Prince
TUCKERMAN
Bill Conroy
Barton Road
Ely
