Barrington ...

We stopped outside Barrington - 

The house lay beyond the laurel trees -

We were halfway up the steep road to Ballard Down -

Below us was the village and the ancient church - 

Beyond that, the wide harbour, the silent islands amidst mazy channels - 

Barrington, I thought, could be the location for an English murder - 

A wealthy aunt poisoned by a bewitching niece - 

A scoundrel bludgeoned by a rival in love - 

A vicar toppling down a narrow stair - 

All these murders might have happened here - 

I expected to see Captain Hastings - 

Hercule Poirot with his fastidious mincing gait - 

Inspector Japp, driven up the road in his Wolsely - 

A murder solved in an afternoon - 

13.48

Sunday 13 January 2018

Ballard Glebe

Studland 

Dorset