Sunday’s poem

[Lyd12]

The Rolling English RoadBY G. K. CHESTERTON

Before the Roman came to Rye or out to Severn strode,The rolling English drunkard made the rolling English road.A reeling road, a rolling road, that rambles round the shire,And after him the parson ran, the sexton and the squire;A merry road, a mazy road, and such as we did treadThe night we went to Birmingham by way of Beachy Head.

I knew no harm of Bonaparte and plenty of the Squire,And for to fight the Frenchman I did not much desire;But I did bash their baggonets because they came arrayedTo straighten out the crooked road an English drunkard made,Where you and I went down the lane with ale-mugs in our hands,The night we went to Glastonbury by way of Goodwin Sands.

His sins they were forgiven him; or why do flowers runBehind him; and the hedges all strengthening in the sun?The wild thing went from left to right and knew not which was which,But the wild rose was above him when they found him in the ditch.God pardon us, nor harden us; we did not see so clearThe night we went to Bannockburn by way of Brighton Pier.

My friends, we will not go again or ape an ancient rage,Or stretch the folly of our youth to be the shame of age,But walk with clearer eyes and ears this path that wandereth,And see undrugged in evening light the decent inn of death;For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen,Before we go to Paradise by way of Kensal Green.

[sassy59]

Thank you Iris, I like G.K. Chesterton. Hope the sun is shining where you are. Carole xxx🤩🩷👍

[Lyd12 in reply to sassy59]

hi Sassy, sun is out and very welcome. Hope you and husband are well as can be. Wish I had more breath to do all the jobs around me, but we have to count our blessings don’t we, so much sorrow in this world. Love Iris x

[sassy59 in reply to Lyd12]

Nice to see the sun Iris and I’m sure you do what you can. Pete and I are well thank you. Take care. Carole xxx💖

[Morrison10]

hello, thanks for poem, think vaguely remember from school! Yes when live alone problem getting everything done, difficult to decide priorities. Sun coming out here again, nice, misty fog has departed. Best wishes, Jean x

[Lyd12 in reply to Morrison10]

nice to hear from you, we are close in age I think. I was born in 1934. In London most of the war and like you spent many nights down the Anderson shelter. Remember that time clearer than yesterday,,!

[Morrison10]

yes very different times, everything was rationed if available, don’t think modern generations would survive! But we did, and have made most of what we can do. But wish I could find way now to have easier life, hate I was born with PCD, as I expect you dislike your health problems. Remind myself though that I’ve benefited recently, long may it continue for voth of us. Best regards Jean x

[Izb1]

This is a good poem Iris, hope you are doing ok and enjoying the sunshine x

[Lyd12 in reply to Izb1]

glad you liked it, as I do. Tried to do a bit in the garden just now. The weather is ok but I soon get tired. The bending is difficult too, I easily lose my balance and am afraid of ending up on the ground and unable to get up. The joys of old age eh!

[Izb1 in reply to Lyd12]

Its good that you feel willing to do the garden Iris but mind how you go, no bending over and perhaps have your mobile on you so if you do take a tumbke you can contact somebody. My hip is giving me hell at the moment and i am finding everything difficult but as I live alone there is nobody else to do the jobs and my daughter lives a good 3 hours away, so am struggling. As they say the mind is willing but the flesh is weak. Do take care x

[Lyd12 in reply to Izb1]

I feel so lucky having sons and their wives near, never mind that one son lives in Australia.

[Izb1 in reply to Lyd12]

Yes having family close is such a bonus and you have a good family Iris you are so lucky. I suppose having one in Australia is a bit of a nuisance but I am sure they keep in contact, especially with all the modern technology we have now a days x

[Alberta56]

I love the poem Iris. Thank you for posting it. The rolling English drunkard isn't the only person rolling along our roads these days- I am. I'm so unsteady on my feet that I carry a walking stick to stop me wandering into the road. 🙂🙂🙂 Glad you got out into the garden, even if only for a short while. xxx

[Lyd12 in reply to Alberta56]

I fell out of bed a while ago, suddenly woke up n the floor in the pitch dark. Couldn’t get up then suddenly remembered I was wearing a bracelet that I can get help if I press it, which I did and my son, who lives nearby, came and helped me. Wear it all the time now. Iris x

[Alberta56 in reply to Lyd12]

Oh dear- the joys of old age. Thank goodness for the wonderful bracelet. xxx

[Thepainterswife]

I love this poem Iris ! It’s so descriptive and funny and I haven’t come across it before , thanks for posting it . 😊 xxx

[Lyd12 in reply to Thepainterswife]

just how Ifeltwhen I first read it. Must look up more of Chester tons work.

[Thepainterswife in reply to Lyd12]

Me too ! Xx