Britain, Poetry, Travel

A Ballad for the Shires | Poetry

Leah Chrestien 
The dales before me brightly stood -
Cloaked in a flowing lush green gown; 
A lone form beckoned to me in dreams -
A forest nymph in an emerald crown. 

On a crisp day, I arrive at Ribblesdale
When the summer sun shines bright; 
The whisper of the whistling breeze -
Has set my wandering spirits alight.
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Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Selside
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Todmorden, Stoodly Pike
I idle away at the grassy moorland
From the break of morn till nigh.
I burst into a flood of happy tears -
Fond remembrance welled my eye.

The beaming dells, the charming fells -
Have smitten me in my weakest spot. 
The shires are where travelers reclaim -
The simple joys that they have lost.
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Huddersfield, Marsden
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Huddersfield, Marsden
The Pen-y-Ghent in blues and greens
Glimmered in beams of sparkling light. 
The ups ‘n downs of its flattened crown -
Rose to a sheer majestic height. 

The English sun came shining down 
On the surrounding dales, vales ‘n fells - 
Lo! and behold! this is an enchanted land; 
It is here where my heart dwells!
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Pen – y -Ghent
On and on, I followed a winding trail 
That many before me must have trod; 
The jagged rocks and those clever twists - 
At times, it is with danger fraught! 

Little by little, I traveled many a mile 
Conquering a few treacherous climbs; 
The isolation grew and silence befell; 
I had lost the sense of earthly time.
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Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Selside
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Todmorden
A singing lark soared high up in the air; 
A baby linnet fluttered around in glee;
Wood sorrels grew in shadowy patches -
Their petite white petals beamed at me.
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Todmorden
This must be the shire of Frodo 'n Sam; 
Here, the brave ‘n noble hobbits thrive. 
The forbidden love of Cathy and Heath -
Amidst all tumultuous perils survive! 

The Brandywine river, the village of Bree 
Came alive before my wistful eye; 
Cloud puffs of golden dragon smoke -
Sailed in the white and silvery sky.
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Settle
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Huddersfield, Marsden
In the dales lay dark and mystical pools
From the old and ancient days of yore; 
Where magic still lives, weaving dark tales 
Of heroic legends and tragic folklores.
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Clapham cum Newby – Chapel-le-Dale
The untamed moors 'n the wilderness 
Lie in a deep slumber under the stars.
I travel on and on, past lands and seas -
And reach my heavenly abode afar. 

And when I’m weary, weak and dreary 
Surviving life’s tempestuous tests; 
I come back to thee with joyful glee; 
Near you, my heart finds eternal rest.
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Todmorden
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Erringden

© Copyright: The post Back to the Shire| Yorkshire| England  first appeared on The Ecstatic Storyteller. The author reserves the right to the content and the pictures.

Published by Leah Chrestien

I'm a doctoral student currently living in Prague. In my free time, I enjoy travelling, photography, hiking, theatre and literature.

23 thoughts on “A Ballad for the Shires | Poetry”

  10. Pingback: Back to the Shire| Yorkshire| England — The Ecstatic Storyteller – Truth Troubles

  11. I always dream of visiting the Yorkshire Dales one day. I have read about in James Herriot’s books and now you have written about the green meadows and dales so beautiful. Thank you for bring me closer to Yorkshire virtually.

    Like

    Reply

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