beneath the water

Hackney canal, filtered light under tunnel, digital sensor captures the world beneath the water that my eyes barely grasp onto, the water shivers and ripples as the black ducks glide along.

Last week they found a head near here, long sunk under these shallow green waters, a head bagged and packed. For many months I averted my eyes from the water, careful not look too closely into the depths since I knew the head was there. We all did. Weekly the police marine unit convened here, rubber suited divers plunging up to their waists in the murky canal, diving below to try and find missing body parts. Eventually it was all recovered, that which was once a person, poor murdered girl. Horror gives way to pity. The mysteries of London.