Horses

I waited on the beach
One whole hour past the time
I thought you would appear,
Each minute rehearsing
My opening line.
I meant it to seem spontaneous.

Those stones
Bruising the bottoms of my feet
Those gulls channelling
The spring wind

The suck of the sea
A rushed evacuation
Of pebble,
My hair tearing.

All muted colour
And deserted
Save for the carousel
Newly painted
And the carousel man
Testing the electric connection.

I waited into the afternoon
And the fall of evening
Never sure if we had set a time
Or date, or if I was in the right place.

The night hung round the carousel
Bright bulbs burning,
I rode the horses into the morning.