The fire-damaged interior of the canal boat

• FURTHER to your news report, (Heartbreak as blaze destroys boat home, August 22)…

Everything that I possessed, now ashes
Nothing left, all gone in hot bright flashes
The narrowboat that held my life all trashed is
Now a burned-out wreck
Wet wood and red hot rashes

Canal’s lit up by the light of burning boat
There’s smoke on the water but no deep purple notes
Please God let this thing not melt and continue to float
Whilst I salvage all I can and clear my scorched throat

The acrid stench of burning flame still clinging to my senses
The reason for the boat was that I didn’t need those fences
Those bonds that bind a body down to just a single place
Were not my style, it’s time to move what’s left to another base

The dredged up trolley’s now my mode of transport
All I have left now is heading for the checkout
As soon as the insurance makes my payout
I’ll be back on the water. New boat. New life. New passport

Boats burned
There is no going back
Boats burned
Life’s given me a new track

BRUCE FIELDING
Castlehaven