The Beach

A summer’s day, a balmy breeze
A green and tranquil sea
A handsome prince, alert, aloof
An urchin wild and free

The sea, the sand, a shriek of gull
Eyes meet and touch and stare
Something in that moment brings
The two within love’s snare

She beckons him, come play with me
You play, I’ll stay a while more
And so begins an endless scene
Upon an endless shore

A winter’s day, a howling gale
A black and angry sea
The prince transfixed into the wind
The urchin no longer free

Cajole does she, come dance and sing
Enticing day and night
You sing and dance and play says he
Your beauty brings delight

And when one day she could dance no more
She sat upon the sand
Come play said he and sing and dance
I’m watching from my stand

A summer’s day, a balmy breeze
A green and tranquil sea
A grieving prince surveys the shore
No urchin there to see

1996

First published 26/6/2016