Sand Dollar

Sixpence for the first to see the sea –

not so far to leave the car

and a better rate than opening gates –

we rubbernecked through the sunshine roof

bumped our heads on hump-backed bridges

stomachs separating like curds and whey

but it was always the miser-driver who saw the sea –

all those sixpences on silver sands

those dollars on the dunes

with a salt watermark stamped by the sea

were his…

rising tall in his seat

like a cheese soufflé with a hat on.