Sandcastle

We made the best sandcastle
that a beach has ever seen
it took us several hours to make
a mark where we had been
Little children paused to stare
and admire it with a smile
for it was truly massive
and took all of us a while

Camber Sands

For a birthday treat our children
took us to Camber Sands
a weekend at Badger Cottage
neath the sand dunes tall and grand
They'd all kept it a secret
but it's known and open now
as the six of us are here
with our dog cos he's allowed

Back again

I'm down at the beach hut
it needs no explaining
making the most of
the sun still remaining
the locks were quite stiff
from the salt and the rain
but they loosened at last
so it's open again

When it’s found

For me it's usually in the sun
when summer's kissed the sky
and I'm down upon the beach
where slow seas quietly lie
But it can be most anywhere
just need wide open eyes
so you will spot it when it's found
and not be that surprised

Of fortune and privilege

A horse wandered slow on the golden foreshore
as the sun diamonds shone on the sea
and high on the shingle the wolf wagged his tail
with my two daughters and me
Eastward we wandered this vista beside
our fortune and privilege known
a walk on the beach in winter sunshine
here in Sussex this place that is home

Morning Dawning

Another early morning
and the beach is quiet and still
the sea a mirror calm
barely moving there until
the world around in slumber
slowly wakes up with the dawn
and I again am thankful
that another day is born

Me by the sea

Gold on water evening time
on the beach into sublime
Westward walking all this mine
In Sussex by the sea

Sea air salty winter clime
far out there horizon line
evening shadows intertwine
In Sussex by the sea

All these wonders help define
the sea in me this storyline
of beaches with the weather fine
In Sussex by the sea

Contentment II

Caught a sunset to die for on the beach in the gold
just there in time in the afternoon cold
and down on the shoreline where the waves meet the sand
just down from the shingle took in this view grand
And breathing in deep the fresh salty air
I knew perfect the privilege I had to be there
For this was a moment to seize for the day
and know a contentment in every way

Mist walking

Found myself walking along the Broadwalk
heading into the mist
the sunshine was there above me somewhere
as the sky and the shingle there kissed
Ethereal silence descended as I
strode eastward along on my walk
giving passers by room as they grew from the gloom
with whispers there as they talked
and it was cathartic and pleasant for me
with barely a ripple of breeze
winter cold still but healing the ill
as I wandered close there to the sea

Delight

Bleak this green into the grey
a salt-laced winter wind
from a prevailing westerly
full in the face that grinned
and shivering at the whitened shore
to far horizon seen
the figure hunched to winter cold
knows full where he has been

If you could

Went for a walk
on the beach by the sea
December winds blowing
but lovely to be
in this place that we love
close by where we live
which pleasure on pleasure
it will always give

For no matter the season
or time of year
we visit these shores
we always find cheer

Splendid

The beach was quite splendid but isn't it always
when with Wolfgang or there on our own
with the blue of the sky
and the huts by the by
it's a joy to have this close to home

It's great in the Summer and on bright days in Spring
and in Autumn with waves whipped by storm
with the pebbles and sand
the sea of course and
here on Winter days all dressed up warm

Our beach hut

And the view from the beach hut
to the shine of the sea
on this day in December
was fantastic for me

So pleased I can come
at all times of year
as this place is my haven
and always brings cheer

On the beach III

Went for a walk on the beach in the sun
the sea was shiny and green
On the shingle the crunch
for an hour before lunch
the view was the best we had seen

From the West a stiff breeze, refreshing, not chill
whipped the waves as they crashed on the shore
and with the tide on the turn
appetite did we earn
as we walked on the beach here once more

Sometimes the words

Still and November and grey yet quite warm
to the beach I ventured today
and alone on the shingle with my good friend the sea
stood there with something to say

But the words being stubborn just wouldn't come
so I stood and looked out to the grey
and as high tide turned tail and never looked back
still silent I went back to my day

Sometimes the moments they come and they go
some seized for the moment, some not
and though a beach is a good place to be with no words
it's enough to be calm with one's lot

Last day in Lyme

No.11 in the Jemverse series ‘Down in Dorset’

On our last day we went back to Lyme
to look for fossils on the beach
heading westward from the town
to one in easy reach
And found them, oh I think we did
some massive ones at that
in boulders far too heavy
to take home and that's a fact

So I built a sculpture with flat stones
I found and balanced there
quite pleased with my achievement
took photographs to share
And the sun as it had been all week
shone down and warmed and beamed
as we sat down and rested
on the sand and looked and dreamed

October Summer II

No.9 in the Jemverse series ‘Down in Dorset’

With the sunshine on the water
and the blueness of the sky
you'd be forgiven for believing
this was summer and July
But no, it's mid-October
and yet the sun's still very strong
bringing with it warming rays
which to summer should belong

Seaton Beach Tree

No 8 in the Jemverse series ‘Down in Dorset’

By the orange cliffs at Seaton
on the beach is a dead tree
looking like a natural sculpture
beside East Devon's sea

Of course I had to get a closer look
so I walked along the beach
til I was close to where it was
with it in easy reach

It really was quite lovely
sculpted there by nature's hand
A little sad that it was dead
yet still it's proud to stand

Charmouth Jurassic

No.5 in the Jemverse series ‘Down in Dorset’

So we wandered down to Charmouth
beside the River Char
bathed in October sunshine
with views spectacular
around about three miles
so it didn't take us long
and it was really rather warm
as the sunshine was quite strong

No remonstrating

And this morning the sunshine
returned with a smile
as it's been fairly rainy
and wet for a while
The mercury's rising
and the thermometer shows
the direction the warmth
and my wandering goes

Summer’s swansong II

On this September morning
sunshine greeted me again
and as this could be the summer's swansong
no one could lay the blame
if today instead of working
to the beach I went instead
to seize the opportunity
and by my heart be led

Sunglare shine

Sunglare shine on longshore drift
the rippled sand aglow
down here in early evening
as the sunshine sinks down low

Cool the lapping wavelets
from the brilliance of day
as barefoot here I wander
whilst around me seagulls play

I am the beach

Days like today
may be short lived indeed
but they're part of my rhythm
and part of my creed
For I am the beach
and the beach is all me
as part of my essence
is to be by the sea

90 and rising

The temperature crept above ninety
so I thought 'that's enough for today'
and, grabbing a go-bag ready to go
to the beach again, made my own way

The breeze from the sea was most welcome
but it was still in the eighties down there
Though as this wasn't work and I had a cold beer
I wasn't too minded to care

September sun heat

September sun heat
no denial of fact
twenty-five degrees celsius
attesting to that
So it was back to the beach
to sit in the sun
at Saturday teatime
til evening was come

Seagull show

I had a private airshow
on the beach the other day
with seagulls showing their prowess
in many different ways

They swooped there and they hovered
diving from up high
then climbing up into the blue
of this late summer sky

I whooped and I applauded
for it was a special show
lasting a few minutes
before off they all did go

Many times the beach

Yes I know that I've written
many times here before
of this place on the beach
and I suspect there'll be more
but I make no apologies
for that fact here
as this place is a haven
and always brings cheer

A beach full of shingle
beside the blue sea
a most English of channel
and perfect for me
Long days have I spent here
in the summer sun
and many more will I still
until I am done

Beach bliss

I'm on the beach again
surprising I'd say
as it's lovely down here
on this fine summer day
and although it's a weekday
you'd have thought that some might
venture down to the beach
to enjoy the sunlight