Poetry Archive Now! WordView 2021
Poet’s Biography
A former headteacher, John Roper lives by the sea with his wife and a retired greyhound. Has published poems and stories online and in print.

Poem’s Description / Inspiration
The first Monday in May is a public holiday in England. The poem was written in May 2021. Scenes from an English seaside town under lockdown.

Poem Text
To mark the holiday,a slice of sun
like lemon in the frosted glass of gin,
served to shining ones set apart like stars,
high on the terrace of the Grand Hotel

While below, the promenade fills with men
grown weary from months of furlough, with fat
wife and muscled dog in tow, determined
to squeeze a drop of pleasure from the day

For by the sugar scented pier, neon
signs flash orders to stay in groups of six
to keep infections low, while overhead
the seagulls glide like freedom in the sky.

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