Normandy coast near Fécamp 1953

Tail end of November
earthy
cold and damp

Five children
4 boys 1 girl
wrapped up warm
waiting

a cliff
a farm
fisherman’s boats

light from hand-held lamps
dancing on dark water
laughter and men’s voices
rising and falling

herrings pile up
slapping the surface
shiny and wriggling

father
eyes bright
links arms with his children

in their muddy boots
they run
tripping
back to the farm
laughing at the tops of their voices

Mum! is your oven ready?
we’ve got a ton of herrings!

and there she is
in her pinny
arms held out
and ready