He looks at photographs
Of half-empty beaches
And the boat trip
Out to Seal Island
On his solitary vacation
No one to talk to
After the dismal breakfast
At the vegetarian B&B
No conversation either
In the public house at teatime
Yet the images suggest
A calmness, tranquility even
The shot of the footbridge
In shadow over the railway line
Is particularly artful and abstract
He had bought the camera
On the way down
The shop assistant told him
It was the latest model
And would serve him well
This proved to be perfectly true
Especially in the bus station
With a composed capture of departure
Although his request for a private audience
With her mother had been denied
