"The sea has it's pearls"
W. H. Margetson
        BEACHCOMBER

She wandered barefoot along the sands,
The wind lifting her hair into golden strands,
Her head down searching for little treasures,
She seemed unaware of any other pleasures.

She stooped at the edge of the cold grey sea
And looked into her hands. What could it be?
It was placed in a bag on her shoulder with care,
Along with other things that were already there.

She then held a piece of driftwood, full of grace,
Even in the distance you could see joy on her face,
Her hands moved gently over the smooth wood,
As if bringing out of it all beauty and good.

The tide forced her shore bound stride by stride,
She stopped and gazed, her eyes full of pride.
For there in the sea, mussels, maybe a pearl
Hidden, the thought set her heart in a whirl.

She walked a little faster and stooped again,
Hoping for more simple treasures she may gain
As she wandered along the cold edge of the sea,
This beautiful girl, tell me who could she be?

We call her our precious pearl of the sea
For we know not her name, or who she may be,
But summer and winter, all year through
She combs this beach, knows what to do

She sells things at high tide in a wooden shed
Right close to the sea, where by all, it is said,
She rose one day holding a string of pearls,
With sparkling blue eyes and long golden curls.



She never grows older, or never seems ill,
She goes and she comes at her own sweet will.
If you buy a gift from her, so folks always say,
It will never spoil and tarnish or fade away.

I found the shed and the girl with bright eyes
And bought a wooden dolphin, a special prize
That I will treasure, for it seemed almost alive
As if through the wood, the creature will survive.

I have owned the treasure for many a year,
Then went back to the shore again to see her,
There barefoot along the edge of the sea,
Her hair still golden! How could that be?

She looked the same as she did years ago,
No wrinkles or grey or age did her form show.
She stooped with grace to find a treasure
And filled me for a moment with great pleasure.

Who was this sweet ageless pearl of the sea?
Where did she come from ? What could she be?
This time I bought a pearl broach, simple and sweet,
When I wear it I wonder if she my children will meet.

M Ann Margetson October 29, 1999 ©
99POEMS/Beachcomber