Dangerous verses ...

Penelope and I climbed steps the colour of pale gold to the Long Gallery - 

Below us was the park, with the fountain and the orangery - 

The walls of the Gallery were hung with portraits -

I gazed at the wary faces of Jacobean and Tudor courtiers - 

I admired their delicate lace and enamelled armour - 

I sought out the poet who'd written his dangerous verses one dark summer - 

There he was, with his beard and long neck - 

I murmured those words, quietly, as if I, too, feared the axe - 

Graven in diamonds in letters plain

There is written her fair neck round about 

Nolo me tangere, Caesar's, I am - 

12.00

Tuesday 29 August 2017

Montacute 

Somerset