MEETING WITH SCBWI members at LEAF

Norfolk magazine publication APRIL ISSUE

GREAT TO SEE I MADE IT INTO APRIL'S EDITION OF NORFOLK MAGAZINE 

BLAKENEY POEM - 

BLAKENEY 

A SHORT WINTER’S BREAK TAKES ME ONCE AGAIN TO MY BELOVED BLAKENEY,

AS I TAKE MY FIRST INTAKE OF  COASTAL BREATH ON THIS FEBRUARY MORNING 

 I WALK INTO A POET’S DREAM  AND  THE  MOMENT  ENGULFS ME LIKE A WARM BLANKET AT THE FIRESIDE 

THAT SALTY TASTE  ALWAYS REMINDS ME OF A CHILDHOOD IN THE DISTANT  PAST

CHARACTERS IN CAGOULE AND  WELLINGTON HUNTERS LAUGHING AND LOOKING INTO THEIR VESSELS  OF HOPE  HUNTING THE CRAB 

THE MASTS STAND TALL AND THE SOLDIER LIKE  WOODEN POSTS MAKE PERFECT PERCHES FOR THE GULLS  EVEN  TODAY THERE ARE HARDY CRABBERS DESCENDING

ON THE  QUAYSIDE  AMAZING  I CATCH MYSELF GAZING AT THE 

THE  SEA BIRDS OBSERVING AND BACON BAIT DESERVING THE

TIDAL SURGES WATERS   RISING  AND  BOATS EMERGING  

THE BOARDWALK BECKONS THE MORNING AND  LIFTS ME FROM MY CAR SEAT  SLUMBER 

ROPES CLANGING THE MASTS ,THE BELL RINGERS, THE UPTURNED BOATS  WEATHERED  BUT WAITING FOR THEIR DAY TO COME

WE START OUR COASTAL  ADVENTURE  AND HOPSCOTCH THE SAMPHIRE PATHWAYS  TO  REACH THE MUDDY TRENCHES  UPON DRIFTWOOD BENCHES WE SIT AND SMELL THE AIR AND  THEN PERSIST INTO THIS NEW GAME  WE SHARE A RARE MOMENT OF CHILD LIKE NOSTALGIA TOGETHER 

THE SANDBANK SOLITUDE A TONIC FOR PETULANCE AND PAIN

THE REAL TWEETERS SWEEP PAST WITH BINOCULARS AS PENDULUM PENDANTS

  ALL GIVE WELCOME GREETINGS AND  A NODD ALL CARRY HONEST  DEMEANOURS

THE MARSHLAND MEANDERINGS REMINISCENT OF A  BEACH HUT DREAM I HAD ONCE UPON TIME IN A FOREST LIFE NOT THAT LONG AGO

THE TIDE TURNS AND A SOLITARY  SEAL FOLLOWS THE FLOW INTO TOWN

BOBBING AND BASHFUL CAUSING A MURMURING FOR THE  MARINERS 

EVENTUALLY BREAKING THE BEACH COMBERS STARE

HE DROPS AND DISAPPEARS INTO THE GREY

A RUSTY BOAT PUTS A SMILE ON MY FACE AS  ICE CREAM DAYS FLICKER THROUGH MY MIND 

CHAINED AND ROPED TIED  PROTECTED BUT NOW IM   WISHING I WAS SAILING THE VESSEL VOLCANIC INTO A PIRATE CRUSADE 

AS WE HEAD BACK PLASTIC BUCKETS AND NETS  PUT MY FAITH BACK INTO A WORLD AT WAR

 SHIP MASTS REACH FOR THE SKY CHURCH LIKE  FRAMED AND NOW BLOWING IN THE WIND A SEAWEED MEDUSA CATCHES THE EYE AND IT WRAPS ITSELF AROUND MY MIND QUAYSIDE  PORTHOLES  ECHO  THE BREEZE AND THE  YELLOW LIGHTS FROM THE BLAKENEY HOTEL DRAW A SHADOW TO WALK ON UNUSUALLY QUIET MYSTICAL AND MOODY

BLAKENEY  TODAY YOU ARE  SERENE  AND PICTURESQUE SO I’LL SEE YOU IN THE SUMMER 

WHEN THE CROWDS COME  AND DISTURB YOU FROM YOUR’E  SLEEP  AN EXODUS AWAITS 

 FOR NOW  ITS TIME TO TAKE  THE TIME WITH ME  LIKE A CRAB IM A HOOKED LEFT SPINNING

NETTED  LETS  MAKE THIS ADVENTURE LAST  SO  HOIST UP  AND SET SAIL   NEXT STOP CLEY.