Beach Fever

I must go down to the beach again, to the lonely beach and the sky And all I ask is a stretch of sand where the silent molluscs lie. With a blue sky and a stiff breeze and the cumulonimbus flying, ‘Cross a deserted shore, no-one else about and no kids crying. I must go down to the beach again, to that strange Bohemian life, So far away from the hum-drum, suburban trouble and strife. And all I ask is a “Ninety-nine” with the dark chocolate flaking And a crispy cone and rich ice cream, all other treats forsaking. I must go down to the beach again, where the waves are pounding the rocks. And all I ask is a warm sea, where I’ll take off my shoes and socks And I’ll roll up my trouser bottoms, in order to have a paddle. At the water’s edge I’ll make a splash and watch the gulls skedaddle. (with apologies to John Masefield)