Milk Sea                                                                                       Milk Sky

The modern pier at Deal stood that day against the milky sea and the milky sky

Robyn was standing next to the entrance of the pier

She was holding a vintage American camera

Each time the light changes I will capture it with my shutter

That camera is so ancient that you will be lucky to capture anything

Mark was a sitting and watching his American girlfriend as she adjusted her camera lens

In the distance a ferry had just left Dover on its journey to Calais

Mark turned and watched the ship as it made slow progress towards its destination

Take a photograph of the ferry before it disappears from view

Robyn lifted her camera high and took a photograph

I can see the coast of France you know

That is strange considering the light we have today

The beginning of the continent

Or the end of England

Dover is the end of England

I was referring to France

Dover is not on the continent

Obviously

As she playfully argued with Mark

Robyn accidently took another photograph

See what you have made me do

You were careless not me

Although it was unknown to Robyn at the time her photograph had captured the very moment when the milk sea and the milk sky had parted to declare a solid horizon

The ferry oblivious to this change had continued on its journey

 

The Screaming Skull Stone

I first met the screaming skull stone in front of its weathered hut when visiting the beach

As we waited for the tide to recede the stone invited me into its hut

I accepted the invitation

The hut itself was sparsely furnished with a number of pieces of bleached driftwood populating its two shelves

Other items associated with the sea were carelessly spread around the hut

Facing the door there was a framed print of Lucrezia Borgia by Bartolomeo Veneto

I was quite surprised to see this mysterious painting hung so vividly

She visits me often

We sit here quite often watching the sea

Tides in and tides out

Have you ever asked her to explain the mysteries of the painting?

No but she would remain silent on the subject if I asked her

I have always found the painting very odd

What is the significance of the flowers?

Why is her left breast exposed?

And what of the cross that dangles loosely from her slim neck?

I know as much as you do perhaps less

Will she ever visit you when I am here?

No

Why?

Because she fears assassins

But she trusts you

Perhaps it is because I have her likeness within my hut

I visit the screaming skull stone on certain days and on the days that I am far away I am aware that the stone is often visited by Lucrezia Borgia