WOMEN ON THE BEACH- A CHILLY DAY... (My new poem inspired by Dee Nickerson's painting...)

 Women On The Beach- A Chilly Day…

(Inspired by Dee Nickerson’s painting…)

Fashions are displayed on a dog walk, during a cold, bracing

Stroll across a winter beach, featuring small stones and an irritable,

Restless ocean the texture of ice, whilst seabirds glide on updrafts  

To tantalise the pooches below, gallivanting across the sand.

The women wear coats in dark shades of green, blue and

Dun, there is a curious assemblage of headwear, long patterned skirts, as wafts

Of hair billow like tendrils in the sea breeze. But only one face is visible: 

Pale, placid and pensive, which both the elements and the company is embracing… 

Pete Ray…

17th February 2026…

The women are quite remarkably dressed, the dogs aren’t chasing slung balls and the gulls are doing what they do on chilly days…

Such a fine view of an English beach…

The thoughts of an anonymous source...

‘The textures, colours and scene of this painting all pique my interest; women walking on a beach in chilly windy weather along with a number of dogs.

The pale shades of the blue and white sky and sea and the pallid sand contrast strongly with the deep colours worn by the women, such that they are the immediate focus. There are five almost in a line or row, with one other a little way off..

All appear to be wrapped up very well with thick winter coats, long skirts, with several also wearing trousers beneath skirts. One is hatless, a young figure at the front of the line with long auburn hair blowing out behind her indicating that they are walking into the wind. Her green coat and low slung cross body bag are the perfect contrast to her beautiful hair. 

In contrast the next in line looks to be an older person as her hair appears white and her stance is hunched. She looks fragile as if the wind is blowing hard against her body as she huddles with her hands deep into her pockets. 

Alongside but slightly behind is another younger looking figure perhaps trying to look at the older lady as her head inclines towards her or possibly towards the sea. 

A little way back one woman has stopped and turned around to speak or listen to the last in the line who casually stands with hands in her jacket pocket, as her long flowing hair or scarf fringing escapes from beneath her hat.

All women are wearing dark footwear in grey or black as if in some sort of club. Perhaps they are part of a women’s group of some sort and exercising their dogs, yet no notice is being taken of the six animals by any of the six women. 

All six dogs are facing the same direction as they and the women are following a familiar route along the beach. Curiously small stones or shells flag up the path the five are on and this may be firmer underfoot than the stretch where the lone figure is walking.

The seabirds swooping and soaring overhead are plentiful and the sea itself, a pale blue white, deepening in colour towards the horizon, looks cold but inviting with a blue sky above and light fluffy clouds. The day looks full of promise.

Could this picture be a metaphor for life? That we all go along in the same direction even if one may strike out alone? Does one take a moment or break to stop, consider, question, confer and share? 

Perhaps it is simply women on a beach on a chilly, windy day, out for a walk and then off for a latte and natter…

Or maybe off to begin their various busy days…’