Poem: ‘An October Salmon’
Ted Hughes, 16 April 1981
He’s lying in poor water, a yard or so depth of poor safety. Maybe only two feet under the no-protection of an outleaning small oak, Half under a tangle of brambles.
After his two thousand miles, he rests, Breathing in that lap of easy current In his graveyard pool.
About six pounds weight, Four years old at most, and hardly a winter at sea – But already a veteran, Already a...