I Remember South Brighton (Poem)

 

I Remember South Brighton*

 

& we built a bonfire

on the sand dunes

between the suburbs

& the sea

 

& you were on the opposite

side of the flames frustrated

about a woman

 

& all I could hear was

the driftwood crackling

in the fire & the waves

cutting into the land

the cold air fingering

our backs biting

our necks

 

& to my left

the houses against the sea front

were toy models sitting

in a dark room

 

& the sky was a black

smothering blanket

with threads of light

 

& the keg wasn’t dry

so we continued the party

drinking the dregs

washed up on the shore

 

& we were hoping

things would get better now

we were starting university

 

& we stayed there

till the dawn

 

Joanne Fisher

 

*South Brighton is a suburb in Christchurch.