Perfect Recall

Her seventh birthday
fell while
she holidayed at the coast.
Near the cottage
a zigzag iron ladder clung to the cliff
and far below, the rockpool so inviting…

That morning she ran to the ladder's top,
slipped and -
(bump bump)
down, and down she went
(bump, bumpety-bumpety bump)
with the waves all washing deep
(bumpety bump)
and the white foam flecking, misting,
and the rocks' grey teeth inviting…

And still she wakes
from her old-lady's sleep
(bump bumpety bump)
to the sound of the waves all
washing deep
with the white foam flecking, misting,
(bump bumpety-bumpety bump)
sees the rocks' grey teeth inviting…