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"The Sea and the Birds"

There'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover tomorrow, just you wait and see.


More and more,
I find myself looking at the sea
and watching the birds,
kittiwakes neat and quick,
puffins sturdy and determined,
gannets fearless.

I find myself looking at the sea.
If I unfocus my eyes,
it is as close as I can find to infinity
not so much as a moon in the way
a place of wind and water
unendingly flexible.

If I unfocus my eyes,
the sea and the birds are an echo
of a child-me, swimming up a wave
and cresting in triumph
to catch a glimpse of
grey-green forever.

The sea and the birds are an echo
and are echoed in my footsteps
along the cliff,
behind my little sister
who is climbing to the heights;
I am slow and quick and changing.