Breakers
How did we know, at the age of ten
Not to go out of our depth
In those Atlantic waves?
Had we been warned?
Red flags flew when it was very dangerous,
Yellow flags when the tide was coming in
But care was still needed.
We stayed standing waist-high for those big rollers.
Just standing, waiting for the vast waves to break
Against our bodies.
We learned to stand sideways to minimize the force
Against our bodies,
Trying to remain on our feet, or
Learning to dive under a wave just as it broke,
Feeling the drag on our bodies as the wave passed.
On our feet again, waiting for the next onslaught,
Until we tired and strode out through the shallows,
Kicking at the water, watching the rainbows in the spray.
And then….
Cream Teas
Do you remember how you felt
After swimming in the sea?
It always felt so cold afterwards
Peeling off the wet swimsuit with frozen fingers
From clammy flesh.
And hurrying to towel oneself dry.
And struggling to dress, dry clothes
Onto a damp shivering body.
But then, warm now, wrapped in an old rug,
Knees still gritty from sand,
Waiting for the tray of tea
Jam, scones and Cornish cream
And watching the waves break
Onto the shore.