They say at my age of 85
The days of wine and roses are over
They may be right, however
I live ten minutes from the beach at Southend
Each day I insert myself into the world
I sit with my toes in the sand
Watching people with their children
Playing let’s bury dad
This it seems, leads to a great deal of laughter
I count the days lucky
When a stranger stops to speak awhile
A gift from the Universe
This morning, I have risen extra early
I want to see the sunrise
With luck, I will have the beach to myself
As I walk barefoot along the sand
I am drawn towards two abandoned blue buckets
Sandcastles forgotten, weekend trippers
Long gone home
I sit holding one of the buckets
With no spade to fill it, I use my hand
I turn it over and instantly felt transported
As if by a time machine to my 8-year-old self
The first time standing on sand
The sight of the sea, so large
I remember thinking it had no end
It was rolling away from me to touch the sky
I know better now, as I wait for the sunrise
Wondering how many more I can fit into my life
Before I am called to that blue hour I see before me…
Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes 
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