After the storm

After the storm

Who can resist ?

The treasures that the sea throws in

After the storm on Friday last

Thick shelled mouse ears

Size of fingernails and perfect white
spiralling in and out of sight

And limpets , rounded pyramids of rock

Or starry chalices

Or covers from a mermaids breasts
or codfish brains

Rough on the outside , smooth inside

And sea glass , green and brown and clear

ground on the edge like jewels and casting
coloured motes of light on stones

and empty winkles , round and dark

and debris strewn across the path

and seaweed hanging from a gate

The hanging door is open wide

There’s salty puddles in the hall

And shingle filling up the grate

A mackerel lying on the hearth

A.Greg , Whitehead , 11/08/2019