beachy

listen.

can you hear Mrs Flotsam call

her children in from the river

or the puff huff as Mr Bland

blows

up another dinghy or a ball

or is it Susan’s other water wing?

the buckets and balls and

beach apparel equipment

in glossy colours all plastic

next to the sandy coloured sand.

Mrs Flotsam has a dog

called Toby, who eats anything

from pop corn to cabbage.

and little Billy screeches

interminably

at his mother’s decision

to halt the flow of sunburn

down his back.

The tide is beginning to push people home

baring its soft surfy teeth

cutting off walkways.

Johnny has wet his trousers

Mr Bland wipes the sand

off Susan’s bottom

towels are beaten and roll up

whoosh! the dinghy is deflated.

[Three Cliffs Bay, June 1982]