Body in the River by John Grey

Found Drowned by George Frederic Watts 

She’s wedged between rocks,
her body caching then unloading
the current on either side.

Blown shoreward by winds,
her perfumes could snare
lovers from miles around
but putrefaction soon puts a stop to that.

Some come to the banks anyway,
are drawn to the history in her pale blue face,
leave unmasked and naked.

As they retreat,
their whispers echo and ripple,
nibble like fish on her flesh.

Trees overhang.
Light peers through.
There’s no one to claim her
but shadow and shine.

*****

John Grey is an Australian poet, US resident. Recently published in Transcend, Dalhousie Review and Qwerty with work upcoming in Blueline, Hawaii Pacific Review and Clade Song.