The Thames and Port Meadow

14 February. The snow now some days thawed away, the Thames swelled out over its banks. Colours reappear, cleansed by the snow of some days past.

The floodwater on Port Meadow perfectly still is one large mirror of the sky, in which birds fly upside down and the inverted horizon moves with a different pace to its limit. Held on the surface float occasional disturbers of the illusion such as a discarded feather.


On Port Meadow were dotted about the remains of snowmen. These caused some perplexity amongst the various dogs being taken for a walk, in particular to a small poodle, perhaps feeling a natural affinity on account of the colour of its coat, but whose overtures were rebuffed coldly.