Old lady by the Sea

High atop the frothing sea

waves shattering on the shore

bleak

grey

no sense of wonder

no one comes here any more.

Once used for galas

for entertainment

for bringing together

societal equals

pauper poets

inebriated journalists

sober judges

the list can go on and on.

When lit up at night

the mansion gleamed

history seeping from the stones

at every turn.

Time can be a harsh mistress

sea salt

sea winds

land winds

causing the rocks to tumble.

Once a proud maiden true

his parsimonious nature

has turned her into a bitter old woman

turned in on her memories

as ghosts of the past

dance through forgotten halls

to music no one can hear.

August 29/18

Photo by Steije Hillewaert on Unsplash