On the evening of 3rd July I walked from Lifeboat Road, Formby, to explore the beach and dunes. It had been a hot day and the sky was an extraordinary deep blue, and perfectly clear. The sea breeze was welcome, rustling through the dry marram.
Many other people were there, enjoying the landscape in various ways; resting, playing, running, searching, loving, wandering. Though I still found places where the sand was utterly untouched, and signs that the more secretive inhabitants were not too far away.
Head towards the sea
and veer off the path, to the right
across the budding brambles
and over the tallest dune, there
is a sand glade
with a thicket of salt bleached trees
in two lines like whale ribs.
A man hangs his hammock.
Sounds are softer here
held between drifted slopes
cool and grey on one side
lit and hot on the other, they muffle
even the rap and rock
brought by the red-faced boys
tumbling over the peak, laughing,
falling down into the dry wide cup.
Swallows chirrup and tip
their welcome to everyone
All of us under one vast curve
of breathless blue
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