The duty of pleasure

You lie there unmoving

unreading, the dark of the shadow

squat indigo shadow

compressed by the weight of the

unbreathable air

you panting; oppressed and unhappy

pinned

by the unwinking, unmoving, inimical sun.

The dead air on the foreshore

dancing in fever (sick headache to look at)

destroying the bay.

and the waves curl slow

they sigh

and die

sigh on the shingle

withdrawing: a sigh and a pause so long

you think that the sea has tired

retired and died

pond

an ocean no more.