Alan M. Kent
Cribbar
Shallus ride ‘un or no?
Awesome wave of waves,
the stuff of legend this,
a mythical aquamarine beast,
Hawaiian or Northern Californian for size,
named after the reef at Fistral,
probably from the Cornish criban
- ‘crest, ridge or reef.’
6,000lb per square inch
- six times the power of Ali’s right-hand jab.
They d’follow the forecast for ‘un,
trackin’ the ocean for when ‘ee’ll break.
For the perfect Cribbar
mix a low spring tide with a south-east wind,
then ride the smooth faces
of the towering Atlantic.
I’ve ridden my own lone Cribbar,
a long-time dwarfed by a wave of independence,
the roll and tube of resurgence.
And there’s been hard times.
I’ve needed a reinforced board,
a protective wet-suit.
But now, when I look back behind me
I can see the giant swell -
pride again,
country still,
people of the sea.
Thousands surfing.We’m on a crest.
Shores won’t stop we.
We are The Cribbar now
- washing over them all.Shallus ride ‘un or no?
Page(s) 25-26
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