Paddling


No one swam in the seas round Britain

when I was a child.

The water was empty beyond the edge

of the shore

even on the warmest of days.

Paddling was as adventurous as it got.

Nothing wetter was allowed,

Trousers rolled up,

skirts tucked in knickers

clothes to be protected from

the salt water waves.

Only then was paddling allowed

taking due care not to kick or jump,

taking due care not to let the wet waves

go too far.



https://arachnepress.com/books/short-stories/time-and-tide/?fbclid=IwAR2VvTnXnMVxeHPWsdyp4D5aM79CDTyXzWPzGZhkKkt6CLi0JdvlyZso7v0


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
  Let’s Dance “I’ve been dancing in the rain,” you said. You didn’t need to tell me, I’d seen you in the distance doing your Gene Kelly thing and more than looking the part. Perhaps I should tell you to act your age but I’ve given up on that. And I won’t tell you to dress your age. You’ll never dress in old women’s clothes. And I’m glad about that. Orange and pink are grand and Gene Kelly would be lost in an envy of black and white regrets. So jump in and I’ll give you a lift to get you out of the rain. Or maybe I’ll park up and join you in a dance even though it’s raining and I’m not dressed for it. Yes, I think I will! https://visualverse.org/submissions/lets-dance/
Read more
Image
  Getting Better Things can only get better, that’s what she always told her little sister. Things are getting better all the time even though it doesn’t feel that way. So eat it up! It’s important as Jane Eyre said, to keep in good health and not die. So eat it up. And save a little for the cat. https://thedrabble.wordpress.com/2022/01/12/getting-better/?fbclid=IwAR3hCtjd2q1CtdDOLr_RcCH2u-RtaPzjQSQ_ELWMN3kcpMaIxJRM_9u_z_o
Read more
Image
A Fictional Account This story is fiction. Made up. Made up like a face. First the base, the foundation, then the shadows and highlights, the blushers and sparklers, the reds and the blues to add interest and shape. Then lines for emphasis. Black, thick night time black, outlining the fiction. So, there was a base for this fantasy. There was some foundation. Even a made up story has some links with reality. A spark from a dream, an inspiration from experience, mine, or yours,  or someone else’s. Something written, something sung. A word, a phrase, a line from someone’s life, their fantastic real life, or imaginings. becoming real in the telling, when the make up is removed and the secrets are revealed between the lines. http://www.lulu.com/…/true-…/paperback/product-23068717.html
Read more