Alice came down from Shipley last week
Her mother's been dead these two years
But she still has her cottage in the village
Which keeps bringing her back here
This time I went to see her
Responded to her invite
Really wanted to see
If she was all right
So I sat and drank her coffee
As we swapped all our news
Then off we went together
In our walking shoe
Drove to Mappleton cliffs
And down to the beach
More than half a mile gone
To the sea's relentless reach
Since we first walked there
Knocking fifty years ago
Time passes quickly but the sea
Is relentlessly slow
Nibbling here and there
Taking the shore
Each passing year
Just that little bit more
So back to the village
As the tide was in flo
Peopling all the cottages
With folk we used to know
Til we reached the cemetery
Where our families lay
Each saying good bye
In our own private way
For she is selling the cottage
Which brings to an end
My live connection there
My last remaining friend
It's all gone to commuter land
For nobody cares
That few of the old families now
Can afford to live there
But nature dear nature
Is so very kind
Allowing us to store
The past in the mind
For
Instant replay
Of
Any chosen day
And Alice went back to Shipley
With the promise that we will meet
When the cottage is finally sold
For one last walk of Main Street