From The Ferry Inn at Salcombe, by Clara Hayes
Majestic river gleaming down to the sea -
or so I assumed when I first fell in sight.
A village scattered over the hill to our right
with cattle below, all black and velvety.
Yet somehow I’d taken the hill to be to our west
with the water flowing away from us to the sea,
as was the way of all waterways? Arrested,
I fell into a ‘westerly-reverie’.
And then the rub: dusk fell, but where was the sun?
The sky behind the village church was a shroud
of purpling dark with only a vestige of cloud;
the wayward west was turning into one
end-of-the-sky explosion behind us. Some
local trickster spirit laughed out loud.
Glitter, by Clara Hayes
We, a fortunate two,
sipping, gazing on the glory
of south Devon curves
and this besides –
we witness the shimmering rise
and swoop of gulls
in a distant swarm over ploughed
fields, stark sunlight catching
their white wings, making them glitter
in a there-again, gone-again swirl,
a dance triumphant
before the black clouds.
Coastal Path Walk, by Laura
Silent harbour glinting in the spring day sun,
air fresh with promise
of summer heat and bustling bodies
making their way with anticipated glee
down the ferry steps to the sparkling sea.
The ferry man ambles, glancing at the sky - he is late - my fellow passenger tells me,
'never a minute past the hour have I known him to be'.
So we start our journey venturing into the blue
As I have seen its deep, choppy and turquoise hue -
The estuary spreads out before us as we leave the harbour quaint,
spray hitting the bow whips the whirling sound
around and up jumping off I sink
cushioned on white sands, ready for the walk ahead.
East Portlemouth
- rich with history
of middle age mirth and toil
And sailors' tales -
Now invites the walkers along its trails.
I walk where the sea usually comes, for this path is changeable
With the tide - some days the high road must be taken,
Weaving its way in tune with the beach.
But today sand stretches out enticing and vast, and I tread it soft
Until delving at last into the forest's darkened boughs -
Apple trees with peeping buds appearing,
weaving deep through wooded lands, glimpsing
the harbour spreading out into the sea, curving round the echoes of the bays,
hinting of views through bramble and tree.
The path winds around the headland until open sea breaks out
wild and billowing middle distance light
deep on the waters
as the waves crashing below
rush in and out of the sweeping coves.
Stonechats beckon pebbly calls,
yellow gorse blossom pervades the air,
tinges the landscape with amber glow.
Its brother plant the dodder spreading pink delight,
Apple trees and tufty flowered thrift, wind-sculpted hawthorn leave nothing there to miss.
When peeping into view comes the tip of a Lookout!
Bright and beckoning on the horizon line,
With promises of cream tea, cakes, seats in the sun,
Kite flying and summer days of good British fun!