Each week we will publish a short poem, written by some of our Manx Bards and other local poets.

These poems are short, fun or thoughtful little pieces, written to last around 20 seconds and can be recited during the time it takes to wash your hands.

This week’s poem, entitled ‘Distancing on Douglas Beach ’, has been submitted by Manx Independent reader Linda Harding.

We will publish more of readers’ poems over the next few weeks, along with a selection of poems written by the Manx Bards.

The current Bard, Zoe Cannell, features on page 19.

We will print one short poem a week in the pages of Island Life.

Why not try writing your own 20-second poem?

Send your own poems to [email protected]

Distancing on Douglas Beach

Dog in the middle

is old and slow,

No rival to the

greyhound’s racing.

An illegal huddle?

Quick giggle and go,

Leaving compliant

couples pacing.

Too soon for a paddle!

But feel it blow

off the sea, that wind

so clean and bracing

Written by Linda Harding