Down on the Beach

Down on the Beach

i sat on the beach today
people desperate to look, ‘healthy’
thirty five minutes at most in the sun,
the weatherman said
but people never learn,
by thirty six minutes, only burnt
i left them to grab a lemon ice
in the sunshine, as i walked around
i needed to get into the shade
the heat was getting me down
i tried to think straight
but falling is too often the meaning
that you are out of control

i sat on the beach today
and wondered about the people
what is it they do?
how they are they related to things you do
how would they affect you and me,
me and you
i sat on the beach and stared out to the sea
i was a greyish grey, at least the sky was blue
nice to feel that you can have fun
when you are not getting burnt
by another powerful sun
i thought about peach, down on the beach


James Garratt – July 1995