Aberdeen Beach 1971

Kids on The Beach

They play away

Scattering sand

Building castles

Buckets

Spades

Adults buried

Up to their necks

Beachballs bounce

Unaided by hands.

Fathers At Lunch

Shirt-sleeved

Ties awry

Men join families

Respite from

The daily grind

Wince at the heat

Eat soggy sandwiches

Sip scalding tea

From plastic cups.

The Ice Cream Run

Kids push to the queue’s head

Barely grasping their cones

With too small hands

Barefoot

Awkwardly

Stepping on warm stone

Return rushing to

Watchful parents

Tongues taste

Ice cold

Vanilla.

( A reminscence of Aberdeen beach , which could really apply to anywhere)