Marsh Dance
What are they doing, the gulls?
Rising in clouds from the marsh,
Random birds dive and twist,
Spiralling down to the water.
Every morning they perform
Their jerking, unexpected dance.
Great beating waves of white
Disturbing the flow of wings.
The falling darts caressing the water
Rejoining the flock moments later.
Tiny crabs or minute fish, I think.
Anything that moves below the surface,
Ruffling the gleaming sheen.
An aerial circus, whose daily repeats
Ensure continuity of life.
Meanwhile, we watch and fade.
Finding our place, eventually,
Below that other green surface,
Whose creeping tide of white,
Close to the tower,
Mimics the white wings above the marsh.
From "A Kind Of Heaven" by Richard Maslen.
Some Favourite Websites For May 2026:
Hetty’s Little Copy Shop – A wide range of printing services - including 3D - plus passport photos and more
The Little Copy Shop is in Thoroughfare, Halesworth, and offers all sorts of useful services involving printing, laminating, scanning, binding and copying plus various photographic services including passport photos.
Walberswick Ferry – Offering river trips as well as special occassion bookings
Climb aboard the launch Daybreeze and follow the River Blyth towards Blythburgh through Walberswick Nature Reserve - an Area of Outstanding National Beauty.
Kate Mawdsley Printmaker – Buy unique and varied Lino Cut and Etching prints of the Blyth Valley countryside
It’s a wonderfully refreshing change to produce individual hand printed images. Each one is unique with its subtle variations in colour and texture. Kate only produces a very limited number of each print and particularly enjoys creating prints of the local Suffolk countryside.
Sandpiper Beach Hut – A Traditional beach hut on Southwold seafront available to rent by the week
Sandpiper Beach Hut is a traditional Southwold Beach Hut. It has an excellent position overlooking Southwold Beach and Promenade with superb sea views and a stunning sandy beach.
Wissett Village Hall – A well furnished and practical Village Hall for use for events up to 70 standing or 50 seated
Wissett Village Hall prides itself on high quality affordability and is used regularly for a wide variety of events, including but not limited to carpet bowls, yoga, meetings, dinners and parties, jumbles sales, quizzes, horticultural events and art classes.