An old photo glimpsed
Basketed barley water, apples, egg and cress;
Straw-hatted plaits, and pleated dresses;
Dull black pumps with flat, flat soles;
Plain school costumes, even though it’s the hols.
Everyone has a rope-rough towel,
And after-swim sweaters, and nice rounded vowels;
They are bound to go in, even if it turns grey –
Or otherwise, what would Granny say?
At least the Atlantic doesn’t have stuffy rules:
Bathing Caps Must Be Worn, and No Running By The Pool;
They will laugh as they swim to their hearts’ contents
But, of course, no screaming: that’s just common sense.
Perhaps, after lunch, they won’t comb all the beach,
With The Famous Five within knapsack reach…
Can you recall, coming back: were there Cornish ice creams?
The gilded pinnacle of gingham-days dreams!
© Christopher Jessop 2020
