The Sea in Summer

Slow and lumpy sullen swells
littered with weed
lazy and turgid, sulky and sloppy
tube-like
solemnly, slowly lapping
coolly slapping
tentatively stepping
over corrugations
plunging
into tepid water
retaining yesterday's sweltering heat
somnolent and dull
exhausted and bloated
under the gaze
of a red, emerging newborn sun
swimming
towards undulations
out to sea
with faraway launches
in the disappearing bay
above flimsy clouds
in a sky pure and baby blue
then returning
stroking smoothly towards the shore
as distant joggers and dashing dogs
loom larger
from the shallows
and the scruffy, littered beach
to towel down . . .