When I was a young man many years before today.

I went off with my two best mates to dig bait in Dovercourt bay.

We trundled of bleary eyed at the break of day.

In search of lugworms hiding in the clay.

We hadn’t come for fun it was how we earned our pay.

The work was so engrossing we didn’t notice the waters creeping in.

It filled the holes that we had dug it slowly filled the creeks.

We tried to find a path to shore wading through the marsh with wellies that had leaks.

Eventually we had no choice no path could be found.

We made a plan that they would swim and leave me on high ground.

The high ground wasn’t high enough up to my knees the waters swirled around.

I had to face the fact with acres of water all around I could be drowned.

My mates went off in my van happy to be free.

I stood around wondering how long would I be standing in the sea.

Like a Maldives resident after the ice cap has melted.

Up to my thighs in water damn it my cigarette papers had been wetted.

A childhood spent around water and I never learned to swim.

I suppose it was my own fault that my future was looking grim.

My mates were coming back for me when the waters had receded.

There I was a local boy but now my local knowledge could be derided.

My mates set of for home a cup of tea and a change of clothes.

As they drove they talked and decided to turn around.

They had made up their minds they had better call the lifeboat out.

I was glad to see them and they gave a friendly shout.

Praise be I am saved.

PS

After a dry out and warm up we returned for the next tide more cautious than last time