Driving to Montacute to see Elizabeth Knollys ...

We'd got lost on our way to Montacute - 

Rain fell from the grey sky - tawny leaves smelled of autumn - 

Narrow roads took us deeper into an unmapped landscape - 

Villages had ancient names - 

Hares ran across silent fields - stone houses were half hidden by high laurel hedges - 

Dark woods were haunted by cawing rooks - 

I phones were useless here - 

The wounded red beast was marked with zig zags of mud - 

*

By chance we arrived in Crewkerne - we had Americanos in Bilbys - Richard placed four bets in a rough pub - 

The juke box was playing songs by Hot Chocolate - 

Antique shops were full of mysterious treasures - 

When we at last found Montacute, I showed Richard the portrait of Elizabeth Knollys - 

There she was, still beautiful and watchful - 

What secrets, I wondered, were upon her lips?

15.00

Saturday 24 October 2015

Somerset