Man at the end of the pier

The man at the end of the pier

Grey mist resting upon the darkness of sea
Screaming of gulls like tormented banshee
He stands huddled close in his brown overcoat
Woollen scarf pulled tight round his throat.

Wind, harsh and spiteful, spat maliciously in his face
Waves crashing down with such dignity and grace
A single paper coffee cup lands ceremoniously at his feet
Exhausted from its journey it stares up at him with defeat.

He pulls his coat closer, shoulders heavy with regret
The sea waits indefinitely for man to repay their debt
With rough hands he brushes stinging tears from his eye
And with force lunges forward with a scream of goodbye.

Darkness folds round him as he plunges into cold
Without a single struggle he lets the water take hold.
He smiles as the sea robs him of his final worldly breath
And with calm and compassion he welcomes in death.

Had he never existed? for he just disappeared
When the body was found no clues volunteered
No-one had noticed, what with the weather severe
The solitary man at the end of the pier.