On my left there were a number of men dressed in Great War army uniforms
There were in a circle and singing hymns
I looked out to sea
Neptune and his mermaids
Were swimming in the waves
I filmed them on my phone
A wretched waif dressed in filthy rags
Tapped me on the shoulder
Asking for bread
What is your name?
I looked at her small sun burnt face
Robinson Crusoe my name is Robinson Crusoe
Very well I will advise She Garland of your return
What is your name?
My name is Carmen of Madrid
The waif kissed the richest ring on my finger
Very well I will advise She Garland of your return
I followed the narrow path towards the lighthouse
It was shrouded by Edelweiss on both sides
Which way is the Edelweiss Lighthouse ???
That was all that was written on a weathered wooden signpost
I threw the signpost into the sea
As I had tired of its riddles
What is her name?
Her name is Carmen of Madrid
The mermaids sang
She Garland has waited for her for many years
Please would you extinguish your recording device as it will not please her
I knocked on the lowest door of the lighthouse but received no reply
A washerwoman came up to me with Robinson Crusoe perched on her broad shoulders
The keeper the keeper of the lighthouse is long gone
The Edelweiss Lighthouse now runs itself
How long has he been gone?
Many a year
Many a year now
Said Robinson Crusoe as she retrieved a note from the washerwoman’s matted hair
He instructed me to give it to anybody passing
I opened the small note which was damp with sweat
I am in the mood for love
You know this well
Please do not try to find me
The men dressed in Great War army uniforms had stopped singing and one by one were walking into the sea
As they did so they were each greeted by a mermaid and guided towards the deeper waters
Until none remained on the beach
Only a solitary rifle lay in the sand
I tried to film the event but my phone grey hot in my hand
So I declined the task and threw the phone on to the rocks below
Where it shattered into brittle pieces