We went for a walk this morning
Bud and I
The sun beating down on our heads
bearable by beautiful breeze
Pounding the pavement fast how I like it
No family to moan at my speed walk
Empty beer bottles strewn on floor
A hot fresh dog turd wafting up from the ground
Past the ‘big houses’ of money no object
interspersed with out of place
flats, bedsits, hotels
And secret fuck me hideaways
The swans are out on the still early lake
The big gaudy plastic tourist trapper ones my favourite
They don’t hiss snarl and spit
Make my heart pound sickening with fear in my throat
We cross over the road
And there it is
The other world in the city
Vast, blue, shimmering nature
The dog sighs, drops his shoulders and grins just like I do
Already there’s game old birds in the sea
Bobbing, laughing swimming the time of day
With ridiculous fabulous caps atop thier heads like old picture postcards from years ago
Our pace slows to leisure stroll taking it all in
We pass a morning pleasantry with the old fella on a bench
He sleeps in his suit a carrier bag for a pillow
Today his big shiny red face is lit with sunshiney joy
The next bench is a bloke
With his second can of breakfast special brew
We chat dogs and weather as you do when yer British
Bud stands patient but protective in front of me. Good dog
Leathery ladies dotted along the beach pebbles
Books, sunglasses, towels and phones
Set up for a day of oily flesh cooking
Kids all grown and left so the days are once again their own
Evil Kamikaze seagulls full of grace
Dive bomb the surface looking for a morning feed
Incongruous arses up in the air
Feet paddling frantically whilst yapping beak at the underneath
Our feet are starting to burn
Calves twitching like dead fish in final throws of the nerve dance
His belly rumbles just as I think
I’m fuckin’ starving
It’s time to go home
I love Southsea
Donna Carter
