On Oddicombe Beach

The furnicular glides you down

into the blue busom of the sea,

delivers you almost into the changed lap

of the now green waiting wave.

A quiet descent by cliffside

making the spirit soar.

This small curve of the Devon coast

like Neptune's art deco retreat.

Brace yourself for terracotta sand,

1920's air, a red coloured beach,

green shore, tangled breath

held blue beyond.

A black crow straddles the sand,

unwantedly following gulls for a share

of their slim pickings.

Later the rogue tangles with another crow,

a pair of dry black gloves

tangled in the above.

Swimmers well versed in  cold brave the bay,

converse with those unlucky enough 

to be elsewhere on mobile phones

held high above the waves.

And the sea delivers selfless peace.

Breccia cliffs withstand dazzling light.

And the hand randomly picks up 

a piece of shattered pottery

with copperplate writing in the glaze,

too small to read except with the heart.