the day begins
arms and legs coated
with mousse suntan lotion
(still a treasured summer scent)
white zinc smeared on nose and cheeks
railing defensive against having
to wear a hat
armed with buckets and spades
beach sproglets set about
building sand castles
moats and dams
with sticks and shells
digging holes to china
playing out quick sand dramas
food for needy fertile imaginations
in a sea of coloured beach umbrellas
surf planes and beach balls
running from the breakers
as they hit the shore
high pitched squeals and hilarity
puncture the air
a music that only little popettes
can produce
lunch time
salad sandwiches
on fresh soft white bread
stained with purple beetroot
fanta ice blocks
chocolate paddlepops
sheer summer bliss
the sun is setting
time to go home
enough stuff
for an antarctic expedition
is gathered together
as we pile into the car
Happy days! Sandwiches always seemed to have one extra ingredient - sand!
ReplyDeleteA great choice. as each phase of this beach day dances its images into my memories. I love the "sigging holes to China" stanza.
ReplyDeletewe're fortunate to have such wonderful childhood memories...lovely...btw "white zinc smeared on nose and cheeks" reminds me of cricketers similarly sporting zinc busy after the ball etc.....
ReplyDeleteWonderful memories of days on the beach. What a joy for kids of all ages to play on beach. It is the same on beaches all over the world!
ReplyDeleteI think I would like to spend the day as a beach sproglet - and those sandwiches sound delicious ;)
ReplyDeleteOh positively lovely, this poem built from grains of delightful memories that in turn sparked my own memories of Julys on Cape Cod!
ReplyDeleteI always wonder why we bring so much to the beach when we need so little. What a delightful day to remember long after the days cool down.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful memories. Sigh. Loved this.
ReplyDeleteSounds like our family by the sea...with the beach tent of course...and the dog in the shade...except when he was in the water...or shaking it all over us! Blow the Earl of Sandwich, they were invented for the beach.
ReplyDeletewhat a beautiful picture you paint with these memories
ReplyDeletesalad sandwiches
ReplyDeleteon fresh soft white bread
stained with purple beetroot
fanta ice blocks
chocolate paddlepops
sheer summer bliss
Oh my! These are some great beach meals!!! I loved the fanta and the salad on bread references. that's my type of lunch... have a great summer in Australia Rall! It's fall here in America and it's good to be reminded of summer stuff!!! yay!!!
Well, except for your lunch fare, we could have been at the same beach. Ours was hot dogs in rolls with mustard, relish, and ketchup; Cokes and lemonade; roasted marshmallows, and maybe a Sugar Daddy or some Sugar Babies for the ride home! It may not have been the same beach, but it was the same sun and the same fun!
ReplyDeleteI love this day, it reminds me of my youth.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun day. How woderful to have such a good memoriy.
ReplyDeleteOh, "those lazy, hazy days" ...! (As the song says.) Nice to be taken back.
ReplyDelete