York, 6 April 2009

On board the

Pride of Rotterdam

The Europoort

Embarked &

Cabined

The pre

Easter

Holidays

Have begun &

I will

Initiate

It

With a Guinness

Or three

We enjoy an

Evening meal

Sprinkled over with

Small talk

Students walking

Past and

Past again

Dancing

And then

Morning comes

I’m home

Again

Welcome back

Is screamed by

All things

English

A recognition

Beyond repair

Hello Hull

Hello Yorkshire

The rows and

Rows of hedges

Dual carriageways

The A1079

Past the exit

For

Nunburnholme

The sun is touching

Me

Through the

Glass windows

Of the coach

With sign

Saying that

Seat belts must be worn

At all times

B&Bs along the

Road

And road signs

Warn for crossing

Deer

The morning York

Brings the

National Railway Museum

Where I am awed

By train saloons

Of royalty

Among which

The Duke of Sutherland’s

Self-contained

Coal furnaced 2818 Great Western

Fin de siecle 19C

Bolted

Edward VII’s

Bathroomed

Bathtubbed saloon

And the saloon of

Queen Victoria

Who handpicked the

Bird’s eye maple and a mixture of red,

White and blue and gold silk materials

My kids would have loved to see

The trains & all their

Pump and circumstance &

The pride in heritage

Afternoon York

Is for

The Shambles &

Cream teas

In a quaint and

Rustic tearoom

Is for the

York Minster

Where the Quarter Jacks

Hammer

Where Jeremy

Muldowney

Passionately preaches

The gospel of Cathedrals

Glass-stained windows

Choirboys playing football

Inside

Market scenes inside

Sings about the

Quire

In old Yorvik

Where the Foss

Meanders

Quietly

I have a

Constant

Incessant smile