PEOPLE WHO EXPECT NOTHING

‘You’ve got your tit out a bit,’

a Margate youth points politely,

speaks quietly.

I say, ‘What?’

and then look down.

Oh fuck.

I tug at my elastic stretch, halter neck,

tankini top

and nod,

‘Cheers for that,’

then dive, without dignity, into the sea.

‘S’alright,’ he says

and sits a while

under stretched-out skies

to smoke a fag.

And sigh.