A trip on a train
from Fairbourne to Barmouth
through Arthog Community
In the cool rain
a narrow gauge steam railway
Puffing along
it rattles a bit
but it seems to belong
picks up some speed
takes the tunnel and slows
the Mawddach across from us
worthy of prose
The estuary widens
as do the dunes
the waving grasses
And the Lagoons
sea trout and salmon
And the Irish Sea
Barmouth a ferry leaves
so windy, it be
winter is coming
We’re beginning to feel
A bleakness
less people
Not quite the appeal
a vista of freshness
It’s goosebumps for me
down through the sand
to the sea
its perishing, honest
imagine to fall
into the sea here
a biting squall.
back on the train
to Fairbourne again
dragons teeth stones
where tanks dare not go
McDougalls flour
created the flow
And made it a seaside
a village we know
he just seemed to think
it would be lovely
for families
the sun
The beach and the sea
what this great man
had done
A lovely sunspot
Milton’s paradise found
It was for real
Where so many were bound
a lovely long beach
buckets and spades
sand castles built
even now
the dream fades
as the levels do rise
Gwynedd Council believes
Fair bourne is losing
its fight with the sea
and one day they will wake up
ingloriously
submerged
As sea levels are rising
flooding could be
a drastic problem
apparently
built on a flood plain
the marshes are showing
and possibly
this place might be swamped
It’s risks growing
Fairbourne submerged
indefinately.
Thank you to Laura and Hari
for accompanying me there.
Rex Tyler is a Poet, Campaigner, former owner of an organic shop of 30 years, and Public Speaker living in Berkhamsted, UK.