Cowden Beach, East Riding

The cliffs are being  eaten away 
By the constant pulsing tide.
Now just a short walk from the lane
When it  was once a short bike ride
To the edge where we used to 
Scrambled down to swim and play
On the clean empty sandy beach
Our playground for the day.

Just three miles from home
Along the windy country road
Most of us walking all the way  
Though some with bikes rode.
The firing  range no longer there
The red flag flying out of bounds 
And we sitting beneath their path
As jets flew in firing their rounds

Then combing the beach  
Hoping to find the shell cases
Valued souvenirs sometimes 
Found in the strangest places.
Whole days on that beach
To sunbathe, wander and roam
Until came the time when
Hunger drove us all back home.

You’re not poor if you don’t know it
Or until somebody tells you so
And in our childhood days we
Had so many places free to go.
We had Lambwaths fields to roam
The clffs, sea, and Cowden Beach
And with the energy of youth
All within such easy reach.

A  retirement and commuter place
Now as the years have crawled on,
Most of the small farms amalgamated 
And the old family names are gone.
Do children from the village still
In that long summer holiday time
Wander off to Cowden Beach
Or holiday in a warmer  foreign clime.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Bauer Avatar
February 24, 2024 at 3:00 PM
you've described a wonderful memory, terry, in a warm and touching way. i love the line about not being poor unless someone tells you so. there are so many ways to be rich that don't have anything to do with money...
Ireland Avatar
February 26, 2024 at 8:07 AM
Thanks ilene - I had a magical childhood rich in everything except money. Cowden Beach was a special place to us then
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace