Thanks to Colin Will for publishing my poem Desecration on Poetry Scotland’s Open Mouse website earlier this year. I took the following photograph while doing a Beached Bird survey for the RSPB.
Desecration
Waves wash
over the wintry shore.
Worm casts punctuate sentences
along lines of sea- sculpted texts.
Waves wash
higher reaches, shining pebbles
polished smooth by years of tumbling,
glisten with salty gel alongside sea glass.
Waves wash
these gems of blue, green, brown,
that lie waiting to be gathered;
our treasure amongst detritus.
Waves wash
ubiquitous plastic used by man then
washed up on every shore. Those
bright colours belying a deadly outcome.
Life's a Beach 