The rivers edge

Wandering by the rivers edge
I love to rustle through the sedge
& through the woods of reed to tear
Almost as high as bushes are
Yet turning quick with shudder chill
As danger ever does from ill
Fears moment ague quakes the blood
While plop the snake coils in the flood

& hissing with a forked tongue
Across the river winds along
In coat of orange green & blue

Now on a willow branch I view
Grey waving to the sunny gleam
Kingfishers watch the ripple stream
For little fish that nimble bye
& in the gravel shallows lie

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Image from my friend Carry Akroyd