Paul Williamson: ‘Sunny Beach Time’

Sunny Beach Time

Surfers ride a southern break
towards the crescent of yellow sand
that stretches between low headlands
built by ancient lava flows.
On the beach an old man, grey beard
walks his old dog, grey flecked muzzle.

The track to the barren headland
passes a white survey pole, dated 1974
a time when holiday cottages surged
along this Sapphire Coast.
More buildings followed in fashion.
Now blue wrens, grey fantails and bright spotted pardalotes
flit between beachside scrub and house gardens.

Coastward from the Princes Highway
past kilometres of melaleuca and eucalypt
caravan parks with micro cottages spread half-filled
except for holiday times
when families still weave fishing and swimming
into sunny seaside memories.

Paul Williamson