Fairbourne: Sos Poem by Angela Wybrow

Suddenly we find ourselves in the strange position
Of our lovely little town being ‘decommissioned.'
The government have announced that from this day hence,
That we'll receive no more funding for our flood defence.

In this wonderful place, we would so love to stay,
But about this decision, we've not had much say.
Against the shoreline, the waves they will pound,
And, in years to come, our town will be drowned.

Many of us have lived here for a number of years;
None of us want it all to end up in tears.
Our lovely little town, the sea will soon take;
We'll cry salty tears, and our hearts they will break.

New homes we residents will soon need to find,
And leave our precious community far, far behind.
We're feeling much anger and deep frustration
That we won't even receive any compensation.

We residents wouldn't have to be forced to move,
If our sea defences were maintained and improved.
They say additional defences would incur a ‘significant cost',
But, without them, our homes and shops will be lost.

On maps in the future, our town will cease to exist;
By the nation of Wales, will our community be missed?
The name of our town won't grace peoples' lips,
And it will no longer be seen from passing ships.

The community here will be shattered and torn,
And the town itself will be left looking lost and forlorn.
If only the government would just hear our plea,
And let us stay here in our little town by the sea.