The speaker stumbles on a tiny beach tucked between houses, almost like something from a dream, and is struck by how beautiful it is. The buildings and shelters nearby seem unafraid of crumbling into the waves, and time hasn't ruined them. Limpets cling to the mossy walls, a small sign of life holding on.
The sea brings back summer memories, but the colour of the water carries a touch of melancholy. The waves are described as "swollen tears," washing over the shore and clearing away thoughts. Then the speaker finds pieces of sea glass, hardly noticing them at first, and can't resist taking some, calling them "fragments of my soul." That image suggests the beach is a place where lost or broken parts of oneself might be found.
The mood is gentle, wistful and a little magical. The ending, where souls meet under the moonlight at Bairn's Beach, lifts the quiet sadness into something bright and shared.