Weathered Beaches
Hands buried in armpits,
Wrapped up in a
Fisherman's friend of
A thick woolly sweater.
A jumper on the beach,
An eager dog leaps
In excitement as a ball is
Tossed wave-ward for the
Umpteenth time that I've stood
And watched and listened to
The beach sounds, where
Waves bring memories and
The wind stirs recollections
In soft breeze breaths
And gales of laughter.
And the tides are full of
Current and past people and
Times shared and holidays
Under umbrellas, cloaked
In cagoules, soaked in spite
Of raincoats and grins and
Grimaces as the hardy fools
Stroll on the prom, heads down
Determined to enjoy themselves.
Faces painted in spittle and spray
And weathered cheeks red raw.
And the day becomes
More a battle against the
Elements, weather bowed but
Never beaten, a stoic ice cream
Cone in ten degrees, a 99 flake.
Bench sat, blanket wrapped
Chattering of teeth and knees.
Gloves and scarf, a delighted scream
And a laugh as the pennies fall in
Weatherproof amusement arcades and
The penny drops that the weather stops
Neither fun nor memories
Of bucket days and cold, clouded shade.
A summer of sun, sea and shivers,
The wave rhythms deliver without
Fail to summon childhoods
And loved ones and a pleasure
Beach full of every emotion.
Whatever the weather we'll be
Beach bounding, come July, August,
Dune days and rock pool playing
A happy tune, seasides beside ourselves
With pier grins and postcard smiles.
We'll return. We always do.
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