The Mudlark’s Lament
Waist-deep in Thames’ reluctant flow,
A river’s gift, a river’s woe—
With ragged hem and calloused bone,
She searched the silted depths alone.
Bare feet that brushed through fetid grime,
For coal and coin, for scraps of time.
The water told of tales unsaid,
Of lives endured and hopes long fled.
Peggy Jones, with flame-lit hair,
A ghost along the bridge’s stare.
They gawked and jeered with laughter’s sting,
Yet knew not hunger’s hollow ring.
The apron bowed with ashen prize,
Eight pence won to dim tired eyes.
A drop of gin recaptured dreams,
To smother sorrow’s ragged seam.
But kindness, rough and rarely shown,
The heaver’s boot, a coalstone thrown.
A silent mercy, never named.
A jest disguised, a gift then claimed—
Then one dark ebb, her shadow fled,
No tears were wept, no prayers were said.
The bridge still bore the idle throng,
But none would ask where she had gone.
Did tide betray, did fever steal?
No witness left to sign or seal.
The water, dumb, concealed her fate,
As history sealed its rusted gate.
Yet still, when Thames at low tide moans,
The mud recalls old Peggy’s bones.
A bitter print, faint and thin—
The river keeps what might have been.
The Mudlark’s Lament
From the blog
About the Author: Sarah B. Royal
Sarah B. Royal’s writing defies convention. Her poetry and prose traverse the boundaries between structure and spontaneity, often weaving together philosophical inquiry, cultural reflection, and personal narrative. With a background in experimental literature, she is known for crafting works that challenge readers to engage intellectually and emotionally.
Her acclaimed palindrome performance play, 777 – A Story of Idol Worship and Murder, showcases her fascination with mirrored storytelling and thematic symmetry. In o x ∞ = ♥: The Poet and The Mathematician, Royal explores the intersection of poetic intuition and mathematical logic, revealing a unique voice that is both analytical and lyrical.
Royal’s collections—such as Lost in the Lost and Found, Haiku For You, Lantern and Tanka Too, and the WoPoLi Chapbook Series—highlight her commitment to neurodivergent expression and poetic experimentation. Whether through childhood verse or contemporary fusion poetry, her work invites readers into a world where language is both a tool and a playground.
Sarah B. Royal continues to expand the possibilities of poetic form, offering readers a deeply personal yet universally resonant experience. Her writing is a testament to the power of creative risk, intellectual depth, and emotional authenticity.
WoPoLi 
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