22 years ago I was hitching from...
Poem 10 of 230: LAND’S END TO JOHN O’ GROATS
(TUNE:
D G A A B B A A
D A B B A A G G
D B B B A A G G
D A B A B A G G)
At the bold age of twenty-one
(Via Hong Kong, China, Macau),
I flew from Sydney to London -
Land’s End to John o’ Groats my vow.
I took a train out of London,
Found a highway and thumbed a ride;
I headed down toward Brighton,
Then hitch-hiked roads the coast beside.
On the face of my shoulder bag,
A sketched map of Aus. was my tag;
For said a Scot who’d hitched Europe:
“Some emblem may well boost your hope.”
And drivers throughout the island,
Over a two month riding span,
Were the kindest folks I have met -
I swear not once did I get wet!
I stopped overnight in Portsmouth,
And one or two nights in Torquay;
Then headed along to Plymouth -
Still travelling beside the sea.
After viewing rugged Land’s End,
I began the long journey north -
North-east, rather, before a bend,
Somewhere in a bit from Bournemouth.
On the way, I saw relatives,
Whom after leaving I did miss -
Their homes’ cosy atmosphere,
And their local pubs’ good cheer.
And the hitched-lifts came from many:
An off-work Bobbie, a truckie,
As well as on-duty soldiers -
Thanks, and I’ve not said where each was!
I headed west through South Wales,
And viewed Cardiff Arms from afar -
I was hitching with local males,
And they showed me from in the car.
I stayed a while at Swansea -
Saw the local footballers play;
Then hitched north through Llandovery -
Beautiful farmland, I must say.
I slept mostly in B. & B.s,
Where the full breakfasts sure did please;
But also stopped in Youth Hostels,
Where it’s the comradeship that tells.
My favourite sites were Torquay,
Old St. Andrews (noted shortly),
The road Glasgow-to-Inverness,
The Lakes, plus London’s spots, no less.
From Colwyn Bay, I headed east
To Manchester, my place of birth;
Then on the Lakes my eyes did feast,
Before I passed by Solway Firth.
Onto Edinburgh, Glasgow,
St. Andrews, before Inverness;
Then waves from locals were the go -
Warm folks round John o’ Groats, I’d guess.
(C) David Franks 2003
From http://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse (e-book)
Or http://walkaboutsverse.webs.com (e-scroll)
On Apr 14, 10:16 am, walkaboutsverse <***@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Poem 157 of 230: THE MANY ELEMENTS OF BUXTON - SUMMER 2001
>
> Mineral water,
> Foliage-dressed wells,
> Green-grass on the Slopes,
> Limestone dales,
> Clay-tiled arcades,
> Plain-glass awnings,
> Shaped-iron columns,
> Stained-glass ceilings,
> Earthen garden-urns,
> Wooden inlays,
> Soil in a cross,
> Pebble pathways,
> And, had between walks,
> Combating the
> Weather element,
> Plenty of tea.
>
> (C) David Franks 2003
> Fromhttp://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse(e-book)
> Orhttp://walkaboutsverse.webs.com(e-scroll)
>
> On Apr 13, 9:58 am, walkaboutsverse <***@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > I love our world being multicultural - INCLUDING ENGLISH CULTURE,
> > which has suffered under the extreme pro-immigrationism of New (over-
> > the-border-Scots) Labour...
>
> > Poem 213 of 230: MORE AMOR PATRIAE
>
> > There is Tai Chi and there is tennis,
> > Line is fine but so is Morris,
> > There is curry and there is the roast,
> > And, when England is playing host,
> > It is the rest-of-the-world's good wish
> > To sense culture that is English.
>
> > (C) David Franks 2003
> > Fromhttp://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse(e-book)
> > Orhttp://walkaboutsverse.webs.com(e-scroll)
>
> > On Apr 12, 9:35 am, walkaboutsverse <***@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > > Poem 65 of 230: NORTH WALES
>
> > > “Hills meeting sea”
> > > Proclaims to me
> > > “Good scenery.”
>
> > > And it’s views of North Wales,
> > > Both sides of the train-rails,
> > > Whereupon this thought hails.
>
> > > (C) David Franks 2003
> > > Fromhttp://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse(e-book)
> > > Orhttp://walkaboutsverse.webs.com(e-scroll)
>
> > > On Apr 11, 10:29 am, walkaboutsverse <***@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > > > There should NOT be a "universal church" (Ratzinger): both the
> > > > imperialistic Roman Catholic and Anglican movements should be
> > > > dissolved and replaced by a Church of Germany only, a Church of Italy
> > > > only, a Church of England only, a Church of Ireland only, etc.
>
> > > > Poem 168 of 230: ONCE CHURCHES - SUMMER 2001
>
> > > > Via modernist transformation:
> > > > Another shopping site for Bolton,
> > > > A trendy new nightclub for Barrow -
> > > > Sad symbols of our status quo.
>
> > > > (C) David Franks 2003
> > > > Fromhttp://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse(e-book)
> > > > Orhttp://walkaboutsverse.webs.com(e-scroll)
>
> > > > On Apr 10, 11:03 am, walkaboutsverse <***@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > > > > "And question" (below) also horse racing and, even, riding in general
> > > > > (as I mentioned in yesterday's Daily Ditty)...
>
> > > > > Poem 95 of 230 A GOOD LIFE
>
> > > > > To fauna,
> > > > > Home-flora.
> > > > > Sheep for wool -
> > > > > Fed till full.
> > > > > Chooks for eggs -
> > > > > Free-range legs.
> > > > > Milk from cows -
> > > > > Should well house:
> > > > > Better grade
> > > > > Can be made.
> > > > > Fish for game -
> > > > > Cut the pain.
> > > > > Dogs for pets -
> > > > > No regrets.
> > > > > And question
> > > > > Castration.
>
> > > > > This does say
> > > > > Buddha’s way,
> > > > > And Blake’s way:
> > > > > A good life -
> > > > > For all life.
>
> > > > > (C) David Franks 2003
> > > > > Fromhttp://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse(e-book)
> > > > > Orhttp://walkaboutsverse.webs.com(e-scroll)
>
> > > > > On Apr 9, 9:52 am, walkaboutsverse <***@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > > > > > I agree with Oliver Cromwell re. horse racing, and urge you all to
> > > > > > boycott the "Grand National"...
>
> > > > > > Poem 146 of 230: HORSES FOR COURSES?
>
> > > > > > To some (in income-anticipation),
> > > > > > Horse-baulking at gates is a small debase;
> > > > > > To me, it seems a memory/fear case
> > > > > > Over the coming whip-castigation.
> > > > > > To some, the winning jockey’s elation
> > > > > > Is the highlight of an ended horserace;
> > > > > > To me, the horse’s bulged veins and scared face
> > > > > > Undermine the winners’ celebration.
> > > > > > I can’t condone a punter’s desire
> > > > > > To gamble rather than earn a living,
> > > > > > But can acknowledge a jockey’s courage;
> > > > > > I can’t see and think as a raced sire,
> > > > > > Nor feel the scrapes hedges are giving,
> > > > > > But find horses choiceless in their bondage.
>
> > > > > > (C) David Franks 2003
> > > > > > Fromhttp://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse(e-book)
> > > > > > Orhttp://walkaboutsverse.webs.com(e-scroll)
>
> > > > > > On Apr 8, 9:50 am, walkaboutsverse <***@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > > > > > > Augusta is a beautiful course, and the Masters makes great viewing for
> > > > > > > golf-lovers, but should it be a major..? I think the U.S.A. should
> > > > > > > host one, but NOT three, of the four majors...
>
> > > > > > > Poem 221 of 230: MAJORS
>
> > > > > > > If golf taps the world for its players
> > > > > > > (And few would deny that so),
> > > > > > > Why, then, are three of four majors
> > > > > > > A United States Tour show?
>
> > > > > > > (C) David Franks 2003
> > > > > > > Fromhttp://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse(e-book)
> > > > > > > Orhttp://walkaboutsverse.webs.com(e-scroll)
>
> > > > > > > On Apr 7, 9:19 am, walkaboutsverse <***@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > > > > > > > I did post this quite recently as a Daily Ditty, E.G., but for William
> > > > > > > > Wordsworth's birthday...
>
> > > > > > > > Poem 159 of 230: WINDERMERE - SUMMER 2001
>
> > > > > > > > Some thirteen years from my first visit
> > > > > > > > (Then, dropped from hitching, just near;
> > > > > > > > This time, by train and a downhill walk),
> > > > > > > > I arrived at Windermere:
>
> > > > > > > > On the ferry Miss Cumbria Three,
> > > > > > > > A chill-out trip to Ambleside -
> > > > > > > > Viewing the trees, the farms, the fells,
> > > > > > > > And the more sporty ways to ride.
>
> > > > > > > > Once there, an uphill walk through the shops
> > > > > > > > Led to a leaf, rock and root track,
> > > > > > > > With a stalactite-like mossy falls,
> > > > > > > > And a bridge - starting the way back.
>
> > > > > > > > Track-side, gripping the ghyll, ancient woods
> > > > > > > > Shaded what was a sunny day,
> > > > > > > > And the babbling brook gave sound softly -
> > > > > > > > Soothing the soul a further way.
>
> > > > > > > > Then home - again charmed by the thin-stone
> > > > > > > > Minimum-mortar kept buildings,
> > > > > > > > The surrounds of England’s largest lake,
> > > > > > > > And movie train-window viewings.
>
> > > > > > > > (C) David Franks 2003
> > > > > > > > Fromhttp://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse(e-book)
> > > > > > > > Orhttp://walkaboutsverse.webs.com(e-scroll)
>
> > > > > > > > On Apr 6, 9:27 am, walkaboutsverse <***@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > > > > > > > > With the next election date announced today, if Brown knew better he'd
> > > > > > > > > be a member of the Scottish National Party (it's also the anniversary
> > > > > > > > > of the Declaration of Arbroath/Scottish Independence!), and if Cameron
> > > > > > > > > knew better he'd be against the rotten ineqaulity that free-market
> > > > > > > > > policies produce...
>
> > > > > > > > > Poem 135 of 230: ON THE 2001 ELECTION
>
> > > > > > > > > Morally Tory;
> > > > > > > > > Economically
> > > > > > > > > Old Labour:
> > > > > > > > > Cold waiver.
>
> > > > > > > > > (C) David Franks 2003
> > > > > > > > > Fromhttp://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse(e-book)
> > > > > > > > > Orhttp://walkaboutsverse.webs.com(e-scroll)
>
> > > > > > > > > On Apr 5, 10:46 am, walkaboutsverse <***@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > > > > > > > > > Thanks Christian.
>
> > > > > > > > > > Poem 205 of 230: SUFFERING
>
> > > > > > > > > > Badger baiting,
> > > > > > > > > > Bull fighting,
> > > > > > > > > > Fox hunting,
> > > > > > > > > > Hare coursing:
> > > > > > > > > > Cruel sporting/
> > > > > > > > > > Suffering.
>
> > > > > > > > > > (C) David Franks 2003
> > > > > > > > > > Fromhttp://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse(e-book)
> > > > > > > > > > Orhttp://walkaboutsverse.webs.com(e-scroll)
>
> > > > > > > > > > On Apr 4, 11:57 am, ChristianKnight <***@operamail.com>
> > > > > > > > > > wrote:
>
> > > > > > > > > > > On Feb 24, 11:10 pm, walkaboutsverse <***@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > Many of the links on my last thread are now dead, thus I'm starting
> > > > > > > > > > > > again with...
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > Poem 2 of 230: WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > (TUNE:
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > C F G G A A G G
> > > > > > > > > > > > C G A A G G F F
> > > > > > > > > > > > C A A A G G F F
> > > > > > > > > > > > C G A G A G F F
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > C F G G A A G G
> > > > > > > > > > > > C F G G A G F F)
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > Once drove an old sedan, up north,
> > > > > > > > > > > > From a place in Sydney to Cairns;
> > > > > > > > > > > > Then to Kuranda I went forth,
> > > > > > > > > > > > By train, to look without set plans.
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > I browsed through the trendy market,
> > > > > > > > > > > > With fresh fruits of tropical kind;
> > > > > > > > > > > > Walked to the creek through lush thicket -
> > > > > > > > > > > > Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > I dined in a scenic cafe;
> > > > > > > > > > > > Then, outside, as I wrote for yen,
> > > > > > > > > > > > Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey,
> > > > > > > > > > > > You go walkabout with your pen.”
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > Request or question, I don’t know -
> > > > > > > > > > > > Assured voices, elderly men.
> > > > > > > > > > > > That’s now several years ago,
> > > > > > > > > > > > And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > (C) David Franks 2003
> > > > > > > > > > > > From WalkaboutsVerse; hear it here -http://myspace.com/walkaboutsverse
>
> ...
>
> read more »- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -