Cromer Dusk by Olivia Walwyn (Lucent Dreaming Issue 8)

Sea a stretch of pink
shot silk, creasing and uncreasing
under the slow
masked ebb of the sun.

The break-water’s neck cool,
up-stretched.
The cormorants close
and unflex their wings

like umbrellas.
Everyone’s gone home.
I get in on my own,
wade out, against

the heavily pushing waves –
like huge cats,
dunk a little, and dive
then breaking the surface,

swimming under
then up the other side
of the next slope.
I do it again and again,

turn. Wait till there’s one
rising; it’s shadow
falls briefly over me;
plunge riding – my hands

round the pure, curly
neck of the breaker,
forging ahead,
then slowing, as we reach

the shallow waters.
I paddle on my front,
till I can feel
the ground with my hands,

support myself, turning
to glance up
the beach, floating on my hands
Before I haul myself

out, walk back in,
run back in, raising
my knees till it’s too deep.
Fall into the playful

swell, and duck under, roll
on my back,
tickled and drunk
on beauty, home.

Originally from Norwich, Olivia Walwyn has an MA in Creative Writing (Poetry) from the University of East Anglia. She is currently based in Macclesfield with her husband and daughter. Her poems have been published quite widely, and she has a pamphlet, En Route (2018), and first collection Halcyon (2019) published by Templar. She enjoys spending time outdoors, and her poetry often reflects environmental interests and concerns.
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Lucent Dreaming is an independent creative writing magazine publishing beautiful, imaginative and surreal short stories, poetry and artwork from emerging authors and artists worldwide. Our aim is to encourage creativity and to help writers reach publication! Subscribe to Lucent Dreaming now, support us on Patreon and follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram

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