Chesil.
This ancient pebbled beach
has seen the boots of ages run to make deep inroads
on its ship-shape paving.
Long in length and fossil-strewn
its use in naval training has equipped in many sailors
room for feats of bravery.
Careers at sea are paved
with danger and seen as heeded here has been the use of
drills in discipline.
Young men are taught the need
of Chesil-hardship and mostly just prior to boarding
boats for ocean-missions.
A look for prehistoric
finds too in weedy holes and under rocks which upturned
may prove successful.
Leaving the strip of famous land
that Hardy called \"a narrow thread\" all will have seen
its shingled credentials.
Piles of pea-sized gravel
cover old treasures and seeking scored rocks was the
obssession until recently.
Chesil\'s guardians wisely moved
might and main along this ancient fossiled way to keep
and prize its rich diversity.
I remember the headlands
of Portland Bill and Fleet Lagoon tossed by winter winds
yet battling wrecking waves.
Grateful too the care shown for all
who trained at Chesil and now sail braver over open
ocean\'s many vagaries.