Beach Walk

Wind behind beach ahead, water glimmering calling to join

Dogs upon dogs everywhere, freely running and panting

Water rolling, rolling gently forward, wetting naked feet

Cold steps, shoes under arm, letting water bite and splash

Hello black dog looming past unknown, and round again dripping

Raising black thoughts long past long forgotten like the wind

Walked like this before, once again deep in mind and heart

Water foaming, gentle rolling and bubbling, return them to mind

Dogs of every kind, happy white dogs and black, chasing a ball

Running back with it to chase it again, across the glossy surface

Cold water stinging, bare feet not caring, striding forth, thinking

Onward forever onward, not catching up, giving up, turning around

Headland goal too far to reach, turn now and face the wind

How constant it is, gently caressing, lessening each step

Keep walking not letting it win, any other choice but acceptance

Feelings grow stockpiled as memories heap unrelenting 

Walking easy, thinking, seeing pictures to take, retracing each step

Black dog close yet far in a mix of positive and negative swings

Like wet seaweed scattered about the sand in random expression

Ending in collection and recollection, in love and compassion

Many walkers with memories a-rolling with gentle surf a-braking

Taking or leaving with wind lifting resolve to whole new levels

Thoughts past with others present like wet sand over cold feet

Grey sea windswept clouds, solitary thoughts offering more 

Now the walk is done, occasions opened and memories touched

Feelings exposed, wounds remembered, times long gone

Consume them now with a warming and thawing, easing toes

Fish, chips and breaking sun saying, enough, soak me and eat 

A poem by Peter after our walk on Fisherman's Beach Torquay.