CANVEY ISLAND:
Canvey Island, home of Dr Feelgood, Thames Delta, Oil Town.
Counting tattoos in the sun – The cross of St John, bikini girl
in blue, Celtic runes, outstretched wings between the shoulder
blades, two crossed swords. Momma feeds baby in an XL Beatles
tee, baby winces, momma feeds baby his first icecream, everybody
rocks back laughing. Mine’s a 99, mine’s a bucket n spade,
two mugs o tea darlin’ & a Coke,
“Sausage Sandwich!!!”.
Girls stagger to the shore cleaning cut toes in the river,
down at the crabbing pool children stoop & peer into the water
waiting like snipers, hearts scratched into the concrete curves
of the sea wall. Dogs pause at washing bowls laid down for them
& drink as cargo ships cut lazy waves slipping upstream to London.
Across the other side, Kent is green & sunlit like a Miyazaki
dream, a single chimney towering surreal above the far horizon
& were we to go over there & look we’d find it hanging midair,
rooted in nothing but imagination.
(K)
Karl Hyde 
Gorgeous words, thank you Karl.