Poems written by Peter Gibbs over 60 years, inspired by romance, travel, the beauty of nature, emotions and family and friends - peterspoetry.co.uk
The Macmillan Way
From Lincolnshire to Dorset
From Stump to Swannery
They walked the fine Macmillan Way
From Wash to English Sea
With book and Ordnance Survey
They found the waymarked routes
And stickers left on posts and stiles
Were there to guide their boots
They stayed in modest B&Bs
And country houses grand
Their gear in rucksacks on their backs
And each stop carefully planned
Through villages and hamlets
Down paths and bridleways
Their passage marked across the land
By ever-changing days
Felt Autumn fade to Winter chill
Saw Spring’s green shoots appear
Stopped at pubs on Summer days
To slake their thirst with beer
Heard larks ascending skywards
Watched hares and rabbits run
Saw timid deer take instant flight
And hawks backlit by sun
The seasons’ floral calendar
Gave scents to woodland scenes
Of bluebells and wild garlic
And buttercup-lined streams
From snowdrops in a hidden dell
To blossom’s multi-hue
From poppy red to campion pink
And petals flecked with dew
From tall bullrush and lilies
To moorland gorse and heather
Nature’s picture patchwork
As changing as the weather
They sheltered under hedgerows
As wind whipped overhead
Slumbered in the sunshine
With soft grass as their bed
Battled over new-ploughed fields
To reach a distant gate
Warmed themselves on evenings
Before a glowing grate
With waterproofs and gaiters
They braved the lashing rain
Trudging through a sea of mud
Another mile to gain
Met characters and kindnesses
With buns and cups of tea
Glimpsed unhurried rural life
That few are blessed to see
Entered country churches
With timeless peace within
Rushed across wide motorways
To leave their ceaseless din
They left the Wash on river banks
Where cattle sought the breeze
Retreating to the lower ground
When bulls rose from their knees
From Stamford spires to Rutland
And waters filled with trout
And onward cross the landscape
With scarce a soul about
Parkland known by Austen
A station caught in rhyme
Savouring these echoes
Of England’s gentler time
Northamptonshire to Warwickshire
And then the Cotswold heights
Gloucestershire to Wiltshire
Enjoying ramblers’ rights
In Somerset a side trail
To link with far Exmoor
But after reaching Dunster
They turned back for the shore
That beckoned them in Dorset
Through lanes to Abbotsbury
Where green fields merged with beaches -
At last the shining sea.