Whenever I leave Alexandra Park

And the Pier and Channel embrace my view

There's a twinge of excitement in my heart.

It is early morning towards the end of June

The Pavilion Cafe not yet open

Just a woman and her young child

Walk down a causeway to the pebbled shore

This is a view I will always adore.

Placid sea slurping onto the beach

Stars riding on the impotent waves

And as I stroll down the boardwalk

I peer at grey and red cliffs on each side

And Flat Holm and Steep Holm basking in the sun

With the picturesque Somerset hills behind.

I observe ghost clouds drift so slowly by

Life feels fine under a Saharan sky.

Two dogs chase each other into the sea

As the cafe opens and I enter

The wonderful new pier, silver and white.

A sailing boat floats past Penarth cliffs

What freedom the sailor must feel.

But I'm pleased to escape grey urban streets

Pier at its best under a sky of blue

And I never grow weary of the view.

Guy Fletcher

Pantmawr

Cardiff