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.

© Caroline Burrows / VerseCycle 2020.
You can see Caroline’s poetry videos and posts on social media @VerseCycle:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VerseCycle
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/versecycle
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VerseCycle
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNfagvsYi3w_p-Un63KgS_A