buttress

The battlement;

Northumbrian buttress,

barricade to the North sea's assault,

a perpendicular blockade.

Formed in the grinding of gales

and turbulent waves,

the thunderous wind

and the prising fingers of ice.

This hard, war worn soldier

repels the onslaught

of salty troops

sacrificing

only the least

of its shield.

And yet, in its aged

battle scarred wrinkles,

it wombs the eggs

of squawking gulls, kittiwakes

and grateful guillemots.

Their guano drips

like the ribbonned medals

on a war hero

in this peace

between tides.