mum liked to go to hunstanton
a day out by the sea
she’d go for a walk on the wide, wet sands
then head to a cafe for tea

once she saw a whale there
stranded when the tide went out
people dug teeth for souvenirs
took selfies by the snout

she didn’t like to see it, poor thing
it looked so lost on the beach
something so private and alien
suddenly in reach

but everything dies: whales, mums
it’s just the way things go
everyone tries to take life as it comes
and stay buoyant I suppose

it’s funny how these memories fall
what shadows move beneath
wide, wet sands of nothing at all
a stranded whale on a beach