Hope in the Meadows (Amended)

So peaceful and calm it is today,
As down the path I gingerly tread;
A dappling sunlight makes its way
Through branches high above my head.

Rooks above now circle and wheel -
And there, a pair of kites gently glide;
From distant hazy Wolds they’ve flown,
So graceful they look, so dignified.

Gardens with colours and scents suffused,
With tulips red and hyacinths blue -
And cherry blossom greeting spring,
‘Tis this that doth my life renew.

And on I stroll - up the hill,
I leave behind the village pond;
Then Cedar Grange I pass – and there
I see St Michael’s Church beyond.

Now by the church I stand and hear,
The church bells ring the noon-tide hour;
Below the lychgate now I pause
To watch the martins circle the tower.

Was Covid’s arrival, grotesque and grim,
For future life a fateful sign?
Alarming affairs foreboding they are -
But now, awhile, the sun doth shine.

So peaceful and calm it is for now,
As down the path I cheerfully tread;
I see the sky of deepest blue
Through cherry blossom above my head

22 April 2020
4 July 2022


This poem was occasioned by a stroll along the Meadows in the spring-time sunshine at the end of the first month of ‘lockdown’ (with more to come) confined to house and garden, or short walk for exercise.  But at the time of writing the sun was shining strongly out of a deep blue sky (never seen so blue and not an aircraft trail in sight), but with a chill east wind blowing out of the Europe (perhaps a nagging Brexit reminder?). And, by the way, ‘the Meadows’ refers to the name of the street.
Later in 2020 the poem was slightly amended by the inclusion of the fourth verse.  This was done so as to move more smoothly from the garden with its ‘Tulips Red and Hyacinths Blue’ past the village pond and Cedar Grange to the lychgate of St Michael’s and All Angels’ Church.  A further amendment has been in the second line of verse 1 with the replacement of ‘cheerfully’ with ‘gingerly’.  In line 2 of verse 7 the poet remains ‘cheerfully’ treading.  This was done so as to contrast with how the poet’s mind changes and develops despite the difficulties described in verse 6 (Coronavirus), and perhaps because of the sunshine and display of flowers.    The sun and walk clearly cheer the poet’s mind!

The sixth verse was amended to refer directly to Covid in July 2022.