Who darkfurred and clawed
swims downstream in sleekstreaks,
makes bubble lines, splores
and splashes? Can nothing overawe
otter as she dives and keeks?

What brings otter to the shore,
back arched, moon on teak?
She’s caught an eel to chaw
and chewing done, she’s a bezoar
sploshing away before I can speak.

Does otter pity the pale mawed
nightfishers hauling halfbeaks?
Or is it pure grindwork she deplores?
There’s such endlessness outdoors,
saltscaled prey to catch and eat.

 

 

A chinese-malaysian living in London, L Kiew works as a charity sector leader and accountant. She holds a MSc in Creative Writing and Literary Studies from Edinburgh University. Her debut pamphlet The Unquiet was published by Offord Road Books in 2019. She was longlisted in the 2019 National Poetry Competition and was a 2019/2020 London Library Emerging Writer. L Kiew is currently working on her first collection.