Love Never Fades

When night settled over driftwood on the lonely beach Caressed forthcoming peace in his sharp ageing mind He stumbled on a starfish propped on glistening rock Wetted his appetite for salt sand mud and adventure The old man needed no torch other than rays in his heart The tide had gone out again under guide of the moon As he collected pebbles and memories of the dolphin He once used to be singing in chorus with sea gulls ‘Higher’ they shouted their concert ‘catch us if you dare’ But he was happy with echoes’ laughter closer to earth He remembered the old lighthouse keeper of his youth Never moaning and always on duty as he lit the flame Pointed safe home and haven near cliffs at the channel While the water did what it had to assigned by the stars A beacon stood forlorn and dated but held its proud ground With a bracelet of rose gold and onyx dangling quite loose He braced himself for the winter in his shack by the shore Said silent prayers for his love who gave him the bangle ‘One day’ he promised ‘we will sit by the fire in heaven’ ‘And roast a few marshmallows and hail shadows of light’ 25th November 2019