Gravesend 1954

What brought them here? What made them flock to this
promenade and this grey bit of river?
Was it the first day of Summer that forced
families out? Meant Mother encouraged Father
to take the brood to the pier? Put the children in cold
costumes and watch them play in the Thames?
Who carried the chairs? Packed sandwiches for lunch?
They all did, it seems.
Every one of them thought the same
and for the first time this year
the town has left itself
and gone to the prom to walk Gordon’s Walk
which spills people from its bowed side,
onto sharp stones which cover completely the strip of sand –
a tightrope excuse for a beach – where the barefooted toe it
like circus stars and balance and gurn and grin.