Another salty jaw rises,

the gaping mouth widening

as it arcs towards the ancient wall

of Portland stone that snakes its way eastwards,

a tumble of black granite boulders

extending its protective reach.

The jaw crashes down

smashing onto the top of the sloping wall

white teeth breaking onto centuries old rock

that will not yield or sate the appetite

of the ocean’s wild and relentless cavernous mouths

that collapse into hissing torrents

of saline saliva

rolling back into the swelling anger

readying itself to attack

again and again.