on the beach

at first sight old
older than you and me
much older
Walking hand in hand
as we might from time to time
in moments unconnected by conversation

they stopped momentarily
so she could stoop to pick up a pebble
or a shell, or a flint, or to investigate
a wave-shined glint of something
that caught her imagination
as he waited to be shown her find

at first sight old
older than you and me
but now not at all
not as old as fossilised sea urchins
not as ancient as bellemnite-bored chalk
they were just like us
two more children 
playing by the sea

~

CLP 11/10/2021