Bamborough

[Mike Daniels]

Bamborough

Strolls in off the North sea
full of icy snears -
enough to shrivel tenses -
though the beach invites.

Taste of spray on each gust
drives even the young indoors
away from their sandcastles
and ices. 'No bathing' flags

tear open the air so full
of foul fiends and feckless
as English weather. We find
a niche in the castle wall.

I look for Aidan,
look for his protection.