Pittville Mount Park ~ High Summer

 

In Six Parts

I

 

The Park is peaceful this evening.

Mown lawns and sweeping meadows,

The fragrance of grasses on the air,

The great and high trees

cathedral-like reflection in the waters.

 

Evensong - a host!

A choir even!

Birdsong

as beautiful as any

Cantata or Aria

 

There is peace here.

No regard to heightened life is given.

No thought of petty squabbles

in politics and differing opinions.

 

Two

 

Rather, there is life

Real life in the Park,

Life that stands the test of time.

Life that recognises

the very core of our Universe

~ C r e a t i o n ~

Yes, perpetual cycle no less.

 

Life begets life.

Death returns life.

Death, a mere gateway,

back from whence Life came,

and at an allotted hour

to return there.

and time, times and half again

- as it is written - [i]

returning a new cycle,

and thus immortality

reaching across a billion dimensions

 

Three

 

The trees are still.

The colours and shades of green

beyond imagination,

seeming to defy the artist's palette.

 

People stand around,

The enjoyment of spontaneous unplanned conversations,

chance encounters,

brief meetings;

dogs of all kinds

sitting, standing, sniffing, playing,

and waiting patiently;

the walk resuming.

 

Runners - all ages

one or two olympian

most - well, ten out of ten for effort ;)

 

Four

 

No wind.

No breeze even, this Wednesday evening.

On Monday evening a movement in the branches

~ seemingly Godlike ~

easily I see in the branches

the long frills of summer gowns,

and in the silver birches

delicate lace 

of young Cheltonian ladies

an age ago;

that time of temporary peace between the Wars

when people held their breath

- the war to end all wars - is surely true?!?!

For feel the peace and tranquility 

of this Parkland,

These lakes and ponds,

Our proud aviary… …

until the heralds of history future

announce their rude and deadly arrival!

 

Five

 

In the distance

a motor cycle

Close by a quiet cycle

ambles by free-wheeling

unaware of extended feet from Williams's bench

and, feeling adventurous,

suddenly swings right

and crosses the bridge by the boating house

free and happy ...

 

Oh I haven't done that in sixty years!

I must do it again

But next time methinks I need to keep an eye on extended toeses!

I'll wear my glasses!

 

Oh my!! What a glorious evening. 

Gertrude, they may call you ‘Flying Gert’ old girl

but you're my champion, my steed

Oooooooh I feel all young again...

 

And off she merrily goes 

'giggling' and Gert’s bell

doing all its worth to keep up with

Betty’s persistent thumbing!

 

Six

 

Come!

It's the candle hour

and time to catch the news,

and sip the fresh green tea,

and ... oh go on ... just this once

...a chocolate finger ... or two or ... Yes.

But not the box!

[i] Daniel 7:25, Daniel 12:7, Revelation 12:14

21 October 2022
All Rights Reserved

© Kenneth Thomas Webb 2022


 

23 June 2016, 8.40 pm

Seated on the Bench by the lake placed there in memory of Michael and Wendy Williams

 

Ken Webb is a writer and proofreader. His website, kennwebb.com, showcases his work as a writer, blogger and podcaster, resting on his successive careers as a police officer, progressing to a junior lawyer in succession and trusts as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives, a retired officer with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and latterly, for three years, the owner and editor of two lifestyle magazines in Liverpool.

He also just handed over a successful two year chairmanship in Gloucestershire with Cheltenham Regency Probus.

Pandemic aside, he spends his time equally between his city, Liverpool, and the county of his birth, Gloucestershire.

In this fast-paced present age, proof-reading is essential. And this skill also occasionally leads to copy-editing writers’ manuscripts for submission to publishers and also student and post graduate dissertations.