The Sea
A letter from the Home Counties
I do not love the sea,
humankind lives
by breathing air.
The oceans are deep,
we do not belong there,
engulfed in its depths we die.
Why are these waters so wide and deep?
The constant hills and valleys suit me best,
or even calm of Eastern fens
as long as they are safe
from sea's dark commination.
But to visit shores from far away
can bring refreshment, inspiration.
Standing on the sands and watching
tides arrive and then recede
in waves that powerfully ride
or gently creep
in never ending ebb and flow,
tracing endless lacings on the beach,
can bring refreshment to the soul.
And so renewed I can return
to green interior places
where life sings to a different tune,
looking forward
to the next salt-scented stay,
drawn to where cliffs stand and gulls cry,
seaside charm lures once again,
and with the blue
can send blue thoughts away.