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 Posted 31/10/2005 8:19 AM
Subject: Friday - 31st December 2004
JOINT VISIT TO STRATFORD ON AVON, SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHPLACE (FROM AUGUST 21)
35 of us in Stratford for the weekend, which inspired me to write the following poem:
In August’s midst did five and thirty make their way
To Avon’s banks and there didst spend two day
With Bard who full four hundred years ago
Hath trod these streets and watched the river flow.
Six came here driven by a north-west squall
While one brave soul came south from Hadrian’s Wall.
Most journeyed north from London’s golden shores
Where Will did write and love the south bank roars
That rippled round the Globe and make his skill
Most famed in all the world with pen and quill.
The cruxifiction night we met at Thistle Inn
And many an hour we keep our drinking thin.
On Saturn’s morn we walk the very ways
Where he grew up and passed his early days.
His native house breathes airs of middle wealth
Though genius did he show by means of stealth.
The capital him called to tread the stage
And write the lines that mirror us his age.
When noon had come we make our way to Marks
Then took our bread in one of Stratford’s parks.
With sun still high we oared our way by boat,
Some strong, some fast, some glad to stay afloat.
By night we watched the Prince of Denmark’s fall
From grace through madness to the loss of all.
Forsooth he lived such weary, troubled years
With ghosts and plots and skulls to bring on tears.
The Lord’s Day too much hours of heat did pass
We met by morn and raised our hearts at Mass.
From thence the Earl of Warwick bade us come
To spy his castle and with thousands some
To see the jousts and creep the dungeons oe’r
Where many a Knight had lived and died right sore.
Then did we on the Sunday e’en depart
And wend our homesome way with gladsome heart.
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