Ottava Rima – at Kielder

A hatch of midges hovers in a cloud
above the Kielder Water at eventide.
Hungry for human blood they are avowed,
not to disperse until it is supplied.
Despite this hazard, hardy walkers crowd,
for the beauty of the lake can’t be denied.
As complex eco-systems demonstrate,
it’s nature’s way ever to compensate.

The Granada Camp for Wayward Poets prompt yesterday was for an Ottava Rima about a lake.  Normally I love writing formal poetry, but this one nearly had me beat – it took all day, off and on, a line at a time.  You can find a description of the form  and some stunning poems here.