day/poem 10

- - walking on water - -

laying you to rest in the morning

and all i can think of

is that last trip of ours to brighton

bus down early morning, 

yawns and marmalade crumby fingers

arriving with cricked neck and creased shirt and foggy head

early enough that even the gulls weren't out in full swing

yet

eager to walk the pier

despite us both pain-puffing, gammy leg a-piece

rocking and rolling our way across the sea

heading for the end, fair rides and slot machines

back on dry land, fish and chips early lunch

you laughed at my shock at the size of it

battered cod easily as long as my forearm

and enough chips to feed a small family

for at least a week

stuffed and ice-creamed

sea life centre final stop off

and somehow you convince me to pose with an oar

attempt to outpaddle a shark

and your guffaw as the flash bulb popped

me gurning earnestly

trying to hide my delight

at the cheesiness of it all

so as we walk away, dark suits and sighs

remind ourselves it's past tense now

and wonder how things will be

i'll still think of us, landlubbing pirates

walking on water

planks in-between