Fleurieu Coast Poem by Robert Merrett

Scuff the sand against boards and feet
Toward glistening ocean we go to meet.
Astride warm weathered steps descend,
Observe feathered summer breeze befriend,
The dolphin's fins, the seagull's wings,
This coast in perfect harmony sings.
The crisp white froth of surf and sparkle,
Nature, complete and matriarchal.
And high aloft icy Cirrus cloud,
Paint wisps of white on the sky endowed
Of blue, so softly, imperceptible shading,
Into sunlight white dazzled, blazing,
And on the beach kissing luminous girls
And kites of boys swept high up on twirls.

Then easily slips the warming glow,
Again to perform her parting show.
And before that first hint of what becomes night,
The encore of searching columns of light,
Grading ochre and blending to a different hue,
‘Till eventually becoming the darkest of blue.
Now gazing aloft into endless unknown,
I'm drawn to behold five stars of my home.
Alpha then Beta, Gamma and Delta,
Four points of a cross, yet part of the skelter,
And Epsilon Crucis sits down to the side,
And winks to me secretly, as if to confide,
All's well, don't trouble, rest easy tonight,
Tomorrow is coming, the dawn will be bright.