Sea and Sand
Huddled behind the flapping wind-breaks
On creaking candy-stripe deck-chairs
Naked toes wriggling in the cold damp sand
Watching children play among their castles
The long, chilly day stretches far ahead
From sea-wall to a distant horizon
Optimistic hats and sun-tan lotions
Jostling with novels and newspapers
In the beach-bags of bosomy matrons
While damp, gritty bath-towels
Shield the modesty of shivering teen-agers
Changing out of cold wet swim-suits
Seagulls scream in the slate-grey sky
Perhaps portending later rain
Before the distant tide
Slowly comes back in again
Its waves sliding up the chilly beach
Erasing empires built along the shore
And enforcing the reluctant retreat
The last desultory donkey-rides taken
Flags and windmills rescued from the water
Before climbing to the esplanade
And a long promenade along the windy pier
To reach the lonely telescope
Which points towards the blackened sea
Then fish and chips in warm, greasy paper
Or cockles and mussels in plastic cups
The sharp and pungent waft of vinegar
Competing with the fresher smell of ozone
While seeking shelter against the elements
On the seats behind the life-boat station
And later, licking ice-cream and candy-floss
While steadily feeding slot machines
In glittering amusement arcades
Where noisy one-armed bandits
Devour great piles of tanners
Until, bored and poorer
Driven outside again
To stroll, wind-driven
Back along the Front
To buy rock and Kiss-Me-Slowly hats
Reading every comic card
On the twirling wire stands
Before games of football in the park
Krazy Golf, then Pitch and Putt
Before sauntering back slowly
To kill more time, before facing High Tea
And the tyranny of the guest-house landlady
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