Many of my poems have been inspired by the coastline of the Machars. The various beaches all have different characteristics – some have been a treasure trove of sea glass, some present my favourite colour as they’re edged with swathes of marram grass, while others have pebbles that look as though they’ve been tie-dyed.
Yesterday we wandered over shingle that was dotted with limpet shell rings in and amongst the marram grass and I was reminded of my poem Shell Villanelle which was published in Markings magazine some time ago.
Shell Villanelle
The hard ridged edge, the smooth inner shell,
we search the beach for your limpet rings.
Ovals, circles; from the shore we know well.
We gather until our pockets swell
‘Just collect limpets, no other things.’
The hard ridged edge, the smooth inner shell.
Patterns of brown, ridged lines on the shell,
some with colours of young gulls wings.
Ovals, circles; from the shore we know well.
Once your eye is in, ‘There’s more!’ you yell
Our search continues as the curlew sings.
The hard ridged edge, the smooth inner shell.
Your pockets are bulging, mine are as well
as we make our way to the landings.
Ovals, circles; from the shore we know well.
We empty our pockets of those magic shells,
gaze at the colours and patterns on the rings.
The hard ridged edges, the smooth inner shell.
Ovals, circles; from the shore we know well.
Life's a Beach 