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Contents

The Parrot-Keeper’s Guide, by an Experienced Dealer 7 The ornithology gallery 8 West India Dock 10 Bird dealer’s wife 11 The London Cage 12 A map of roads and navigable waters 13 Required to appear 14 Children’s song (my father whistled to the river) 16 The tune he heard on Vinegar Street 17 Children’s song (when my father spoke) 18 The prisoner said 19 A demonstration 21 Eliza in the laundry 22 Children’s song (my father wore translated shoes) 23 Women dancing in a circle 24 I press my eye to a paper peepshow 26 Eliza, old 27 Children’s song (two birds sat on a white stone) 28 Disappearances 29 Signature 30 Writing backwards to the birdcage maker 32 Haunting Eliza 33 In the marsh country

Map

Fleet, high tide, 10 pm

Old Hall Marshes

Fingringhoe, St Margaret of Antioch

Pillbox

Dengie

Bradwell Power Station (decommissioned)

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