Written 27th September, 2026 submitted to Playlist Poetry Poetry Contest sponsored by Silent One
“On the Beach,” we sat, to enjoy the “Sea and Sand,” “A Paper Full of Fish and Chips”— our plan to eat that day. A “Bird on a Wire” was watching, his “Eagle Eye” on the prize. Mum spied the gull. “Not This Time,” she said. We “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” Beyond us, the “Oldest Surfer on the Beach” grabbed his board and headed for the surf— “Catching a Wave,” his plan today. He rose. He wobbled. We cheered—we thought he had it tamed. He “Wiped Out!” His board shot sideways through the spray. Then wings. A flicker of white and grey. A chip was gone. “Hands Off The Goods!” we yelled. But the boldest gull banked over us, the last hot chip clamped in his beak. He flew beyond the breaking waves and called, “I’ll Be Back.” “Bye Gull Bye”! we cried. Song titles and artists “On the Beach” — Chris Rea “Sea and Sand” — The Who “A Paper Full of Fish and Chips” — Danny Kaye “Bird on a Wire” — Leonard Cohen “Eagle Eye” — John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers “Not This Time” — Kate Bush “Won’t Get Fooled Again” — The Who “Oldest Surfer on the Beach” — The Beach Boys “Catching a Wave” — The Beach Boys “Wipe Out!” — The Surfaris “Hands Off The Goods” — The Undertones “I’ll Be Back” — The Beatles “Bye Gull Bye” — Deliveroo Chipwatch
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