On Higher Hill
A Poem by Pete Marshall
The castle walls lay quiet now
yet high above the rooks still fly
the siege has left in gentle style
and moved beyond the petting farm
The rations came on tartan cloth
and shots were made by touch screen phone
the soldiers fled across the hills
dressed as cubs in summer sun
And walls that once looked out to sea
that saw the ships and pirates flee
stand sad and torn as moss sets in
awaiting flames to welcome thee
The ramparts lay in crumpled heaps
as knights now storm with digicams
and helmets hide their watchful eyes
as I-pods play a wicked sound
And far below before the flats
where tides drift in from Northern seas
the roar of trains that clatter past
on trips to see the English Queen
And blessed with tales from far a field
these walls remain a special place
that stand today as once was then
upon a canvas where they graced
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Standing on the mouth of the River Thames, the above picture of Hadleigh Castle was painted by the great English artist, John Constable, in 1829. Today, not much has changed. In two years time the location surrounding the ruins of this wonderful place will form the setting for the Mountain Bike events during the Olympic Games 2012.
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This is my poem for One Shot Wednesday, run by One Stop Poetry, a fast growing community for poets & writers of all genres to share their work, express and make friends
