Painting the Isles

The busy Scillonian
disgorges, absorbs.
Tourists melt away,
ferried to other Isles,
or slowing the pace
along St Mary's trails,
where, if the flora fails,
then the beaches will not.
They care not that waves
now massaging this sand
will one day wash
over sharp, remnant rocks.
For the day's colours
are deeper,
the land
more solid,
than any legend
lost to sea.


David Wilkins
Bristol,
United Kingdom