Paul J Penton – Songwriter

Breakwater- Daily Object Writing – Oct 27th

I wrap my rocky arms around you and protect you like a mother duck, you never give me thanks though. You just bob away silently with your long noses pointing to the endless sky that I talk to on a moment by moment basis. I pray to the sky like it’s a God but it too doesn’t answer. On those fierce winter nights when the southern swell comes barrelling in carrying the arctic chill I just dig my toes in a little deeper, hunch my shoulders up a little higher and fight the onslaught and think of summer.

Sunday Mornings and they come down from the smoky cities to walk my lengths, faces peer over the creeking wooden balustrades looking at the latticed pots the plastic boxes the fisherman have brought in , alive with a tangle of Lobster legs and whiskers. The only thing that bothers me is the mixture of diesel and oil that slowly leaks out from the boats. It chokes me and coats my children, imperceptible really but we feel as if we’re being wrapped in cling film little by little. Still knowing each part of our defences is acting at its highest level is enough to make us keep the faith and do our duty and keep patrolling against those rogue waves from down South.

Summer is another pleasure entirely, when the waters have warmed significantly, even I join the tourists for a welcome break and lounge back, putting my long thin arms under my head and letting the warm piercing sun soak through me with a hot shower of sunlight. I wash my seaweed hair and barnacled skin with the soap of vitamin D…….