Our little village that we call home br is not important, large or rich, br two dozen cottages at most, br a farm or two, a failed hotel, br no shops, no post office, or bus br but yes, we have a splendid pub br and lots of fields that lie between br the sea and Humber estuary. br When summer comes the hay is cut, br the crops are duly harvested, br and pasture’s grazed by cows and sheep, br a place of peace much loved by those br who come to 'bird' or just relax. br Each year the sea extracts its toll — br two yards at least of crumbling cliff, br we live with this and on the whole br feel safe enough for we rely br upon our modest sea defences. br But that alas was in the past, br for now, out of the blue, we learn br from those empowered to protect br that future policy will be br to abandon Kilnsea to the sea: br we are too few, lack industry br (forget the lifeboat, pilots, ABP, br they do not count apparently) , br no, we are not worth defending, br nor can the costs be justified br of building or repairing banks br to stand against the sea’s advance. br The price, they say, of building these br outweighs the value of our village. br Poor Kilnsea is expendable, you see. br Forget the reign of King Canute, br Today accountants rule the waves br And money is their only yardstick. br br Envoi br br It is ironic that the money br that could protect us and our village br will go instead to two lagoons, br the habitat of saline worms br and various small Crustaceae, br that lie nearby and constitute, br we’re told, a triple S.I.