‘Tintern Abbey: Lines Composed Quite a Few Miles Away at a Garden Centre in Chepstow’ by Caroline Burrows

To coincide with National Poetry Day on Thursday 6th October here’s the second poem from our resident poet Caroline Burrows. If you prefer you can hear Caroline reading the poem HERE.

I sought out Romantic enlightenment,

To create like Wordsworth a ‘Spot of Time’, 

As writing ‘Tintern Abbey’ did for him,

Where his poem recorded a snapshot

To think back on fondly in future times.

I studied Will’s poem the night before

My first ride out with Bristol CTC

Planning to cycle to that same Abbey.

Wild gothic images formed in my mind:

Me on a sublime epic adventure,

To ruins amongst lush dramatic hills.

The cyclists met at a water tower,

From England we battled cold driving rain,

Over the old Severn Bridge, winds joined us

Screaming through its two, huge, white, tuning-forks.

Once across, we sheltered in a tunnel,

In which a spray-painted cartoon dragon

Welcomed us to Wales: ‘Croeso I Gymru’.

The bike club’s big wigs held a committee:

Clawed, wet, gloved fingers were raised in favour;

Two abstained, only my digit against.

Tintern Abbey’s ruins were abandoned,

The vote: visit Chepstow garden centre.

Potted plants framed that sanitised landscape,

Our soggy-arses sat in its café.

I grumpily cradled a large latte,

Devoured a cherry and almond slice.

As we all warmed up, my mood lightened, too,

The seeds of new friendships germinated,

Opening up wider my narrow view.

The result: a ‘spot of time’ memory,

Surpassing academic pretensions:

Different roads to the same destination.

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© Caroline Burrows / VerseCycle 2020.
You can see Caroline’s poetry videos and posts on social media @VerseCycle:
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