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Seaside Memories

Modest swimsuits, bathing boxes
 White-blue flesh ice cold
Scratchy towels, sandy sandwiches
 Pots of tea being sold
Foxford blankets, picnic baskets – 
A donkey ride on the strand
Flowery summer frocks, mischief brimming 
 A practical joke being planned 

Hesitant breast strokes – high pitched laughter
 Terror, delight ‘the cold’! -
Sunburn, windburn, scalded skin – 
‘You’ll remember this when you are old’
 Your mother is calling ‘the picnic is ready’
 ‘I’ll be there in a minute’, you say.
As you dive down again under – 
The sea bed to plunder -
‘There is treasure down there, Mam’ you say!’

Landladies’ rules, pubs with high stools
‘– A large bottle, sir, if you please -
And may be a chaser?’ ‘You are a disgrace, sir -
The night will blow away with the breeze’.
A day at the races, smiles on mens’ faces,
Jingles in pockets, dinner in ‘Rocketts’ -
 A beer and a fag, a joke and a drag – 
‘This is grand, Sir!’
   
Which horse do you fancy – I think Mary Nancy
Called after his missus – and just as delicious
‘A winner for sure, sir
 And what are you bettin’?  Think of what you’ll be gettin’
When you win on the jackpot –
 It is certain, sir!’
 
Sea-side rock plastic,
 Coloured windmills fantastic
Naughty postcards to be hidden
 – Their content forbidden, 
By your mother – 

The day’s nearly over – 
You are tired – you’ll recover
For a night at the amusements – you have one and twopence
Clean clothes, polished shoes and a song.




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  1. Date: 2/9/2011 9:09:00 AM

    Congrats on your feature this week Liz. Love, Carol

  1. Date: 2/7/2011 4:24:00 PM

    Congrats Liz, on "Seaside Memories" being featured. Vince

  1. Date: 2/6/2011 6:24:00 PM

    Congrats Liz on your featured poem this week on the Soup.. a really great one to share with us all with luv..

  1. Date: 1/9/2011 7:49:00 AM

    Liz, You really capture the fun of a child on the beach in this poem. you have packed everything of my childhood in here, really lovely poem:))

  1. Date: 8/29/2010 10:39:00 AM

    Oh wow, this poetry sure takes the seaside to the screen. There is not much you have not covered here Liz, terrific piece >> James

  1. Date: 8/28/2010 8:32:00 PM

    I like this one even better than the other because it was more lyrical and had rhyme to it. Very fun to read! And now I can bet you are not american . I think you are from England? At least from some of the slang I saw. Luv, Andrea

  1. Date: 8/28/2010 12:27:00 PM

    Very nice, takes me back to my youth

  1. Date: 8/28/2010 7:31:00 AM

    You have a unique, creative style, Liz, and I like the way you use internal rhyme within some lines. Gives these childhood memories a punch of gusto. I take it you grew up in the UK, but there are many similarities to my own child recollections of vacation days by the Jersey Shore. Excellent poem! I see you just started posting here last month and hope to read more of your verse. Welcome to the Soup. Love, Carolyn

  1. Date: 8/28/2010 7:12:00 AM

    vivid memories of child hood to remember fondly!!

  1. Date: 8/28/2010 5:59:00 AM

    You paint a vivid picture for all to enjoy..cheers.

  1. Date: 8/28/2010 4:17:00 AM

    Interesting work again that you have penned..Enjoyed reading..Sara