Rima was sitting at her desk
She was writing a history of
The Jews of Hastings
In the distance she could see the cross
Where Christ had been crucified
It was vacant and had been so for many years
Beecher was nearby attending a vintage car rally
Which was being held in a field
Not far from the sea
He had seen a book about the Italian actor
Marcello Mastroianni
But had decided against purchasing it
As the sea had retained its indigo hue
Beecher considered this to an unlucky colour
Rima was researching the wreck of the Lynx
On the 5th of September 1855
Whose loss contributed to the ruin of many Jews
In the Sussex town
The ship had been wrecked with the loss of all hands
Whilst seeking shelter from a violent storm
But this did not concern
The Jews of Hastings
Who considered the loss
In terms that excluded human life
Rima retired her pen and looked at the empty cross
Which looked out to sea
As it had always done
She wondered of Christ’s last thoughts
Would he have been aware of the beauty of the sea?
Or were his thoughts elsewhere?
Near an Aston Martin a man in a cream suit
Was taking photographs of the silver car
Beecher shook his hand
And congratulated him on his contribution
To Italian Cinema