Sea has pulled back tide blanket

re-covering blued shoulders,

exposed leprous shore,

more today than I've ever seen before,

all green-veined and arterial

with trailing weed, lichenous lumps,

all mercurial with light play,

silt-shine, silk-mud, snail-dreaming

while sky is fresh-laid concrete,

trowelled cloud sweeps misting muted-grey.

No cat paw clouds today.