Tall Nettles Tall nettles cover up, as they have done These many springs, the rusty harrow, the plough Long worn out, and the roller made of stone: Only the elm butt tops the nettles now. . This corner of the farmyard I like most: As well as any bloom upon a flower I like the […]
Pippa’s Song The year’s at the spring, And day’s at the morn, Morning’s at seven, The hillside’s dew-pearl’d, The lark’s on the wing, The snail’s on the thorn, God’s in His heaven – All’s right with the world. Robert Browning (1812-1889) . Saturday 1st April 2023 Southern Combination Premier Division Steyning Town 1 Jack Barnes […]
Saint Valentines Day Massacre . What did I ever do to Dorothy Prewitt? She sent me a heart with an arrow right through it! So … if she wants war (well I didn’t begin it) I’ll draw her a heart with an axe buried in it! . by Philip Waddell Wednesday 1st February 2023 […]
Ozymandias I met a traveller from an antique land Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown, And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, Tell that its sculptor well those passions read Which yet survive, stamped […]
My Old Football You can keep your antique silver and your statuettes of bronze, Your curios and tapestries so fine, But of all your treasures rare there is nothing to compare With this patched up, worn-out football pal o’ mine. Just a patched-up worn-out football, yet how it clings! I live again my happier days […]
The Frog . Be kind and tender to the frog And do not call him names As ‘Slimy Skin’, or ‘Polly Wig’, Or likewise ‘Ugly James’ Or ‘Gap-a-grin’ or ‘Toad-gone-wrong’, Or ‘Billy Bandy-knees’: The Frog is justly sensitive To epithets like these. No animal will more repay A treatment kind and fair; At least so […]
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen […]
To Autumn Season of Mists and mellow fruitfulness, Close bosom friend of the maturing sun; Conspiring with him how to load and bless With fruit that round the thatched-eves run; To bend with apples the moss’d cottage trees, And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core; To swell the gourd and plump the hazel […]
Let No One Steal Your Dreams Let no-one steal your dreams Let no-one tear apart The burning of ambition That fires the drive inside your heart . Let no-one steal your dreams Let no-one tell you that you can’t Let no-one hold you back Let no-one tell you that you won’t . Set your sights […]
July 2021 WILL OF THE NATION I will stand – side by sideWave the flag, salute the shirtCelebrate this magicFor all the years of so called hurt Enjoy all the euphoriaGive my full supportBut I will not boo an anthemIn the name of sport I will not sneer at those who kneelWill not whistle, will […]
