Esplanade

Secretly gripping the bench, the four sit
holding that final sea view,
straw hats compressing straw hair
fur-lined windcheaters
and a new Tuesday afternoon pink rinse.
Gulls potter close, pretending to peck food
but they are checking
checking flight readiness of each.
The binocular man in cricket shirt
subconsciously eyes the way too,
with side to side all clears
of the esplanade runway.

Their joint aches and pains
convalesce in a breeze,
as the tide sneaks up
suckling on salt
wanting toes for dinner.
Conversation, consists of;
sea colour, sky colour
sun temperature and youth,
and each time childhood crops up
they all giggle
and the seagulls
creep nearer.

Jerry Pike