The Sun Worshipper

I sit and pen this little poem,
About two people. You might know 'em.
Lyn's sixteen, sexy. Yes - curvaceous,
Dave's fifteen, freckled - quite bodacious.
Dave thinks he'll get a tan this summer;
Lyn thinks Dave is on a bummer.
Dave dreams of bronze skin under sun;
Lyn thinks his plans will come undone.

They make their way and quickly reach
A sandy stretch upon the beach.
Dave loudly states, "It's now my goal
To catch some rays from good friend Sol.
At last!" he says. "The day's my own."
Dave's on his towel, his body prone.
He feels the sun's warmth on his skin
And hears a voice - his sister Lyn.
"C'mon Dave, the water's cool,
Don't just lie there like a fool.

C'mon, Dave! Let's have swim!"
(She playfully kicks sand at him.)
"What's wrong with you? Afraid of water?"
Dave loudly curses Mother's daughter.
"Nick off! Go find yourself a man.
You know I'm working on my tan."
Lyn shouts, "Don't use my suntan lotion,"
As she runs and dives into the ocean.

Dave lies back down, 'til the attack
Of march flies buzzing round his back.
He swears again and turns to spray
Insecto-gard to save the day.
There is none left! The spray is shot!
"That bloody Lyn has used the lot!"
Madly waving towel at flies,
He knocks them flying from the skies.
He grins, then says, "They lost that fight!
The pesky things, they have no right.
Why can't they leave a man to fry?
They irritate; I wish they'd die."

He spreads again his favourite towel
And lies back down with thoughts most foul.
My day's not turning out the best,
Perhaps now I'll get some rest.
I'm gonna tan; I'll get brown yet.
But Dave is soon again beset!
For as he lies there, in a trance,
Some angry ants make their advance.

He's tired, languid, almost sleeping.
'Tis then he feels their footsteps creeping.
His consciousness creeps up a notch.
He feels a tickling in his crotch.
"What is it? Aaargh! It's bloody ants!
All over me - they're in my pants!"
He jumps and runs down to the sea.

Crowds watch bemused. He causes mirth
As he kicks and tumbles in the surf.
But a new cry from his mouth is torn,
'Long with the ants, his pants are gone!

"I must be one unlucky Aussie,
To go and lose my best-loved cossie.
Those board shorts were my newest pair,
Now I can't find them anywhere!"
He tries to hide. He feels a cripple.
The surf dies down into a ripple.
"I'll stay here 'til the sun is low.
The crowd will leave, the shadows grow."
Of his pants, there are no sign.
He cannot find them in the brine.
The ice-cold water makes him shiver.
Goosebumps rise; his skin's a-quiver.

A shark alarm begins its blaring.
"Oh no!'"screams Dave, "and I'm not wearing
Any clothes to hide my skin.
Should I get out, or I stay in?
If I get out, I'll die of shame.
If I stay in, I'll die the same!"

The choice is taken from his hands.
Lifesavers bound across the sands.
"We'll save you mate!"he hears one bark.
"No need to fear that Noah's Ark!"
A large crowd gathers on the shore,
Locals, tourists, and lots more.
They watch the heroes foil the shark as,
They quickly realise - Dave is starkers

SHARK HARASSES SKINNY-DIPPER!

NUDE BOY THINKS HE'S BECOME FLIPPER!

Headlines race round young Dave's head...
...then he wakes up in his bed.
"Phew!" he says, "What a relief!"
But then, the sight that causes grief...
Dave's badly sunburned - head to toe.
It must have happened! "Oh please! Oh no!"

Lyn teases Dave, 'bout his mishap.
She walks 'round whistling, "Slip, Slop, Slap."
Sunbathing now makes Dave afraid.
When sun comes out, he hides in shade.
His sister - still - he'd like to throttle
But he gets his suntan from a bottle.

So, be careful worshipping the sun.
You're safer white, when day is done.

Copyright; Michael Potter