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TALES of the SWAN-DYKE ~ 1 – THE SENTINEL
To celebrate the launch of my 2nd self-published booklet of 11 diverse poems and essays entitled : TALES of the SWAN-DYKE along with Illustrations and Authors Notes – I am happy to offer a signed, printed hard-copy for just £5 inc. post/packing for orders within the United Kingdom and £6.50 inc. shipping for orders outside the UK !
I wrote these poems and 1 essay during my COVID-19 isolation and over nearly 4 months
#NOTE ~ please email ME AT:-
stepheneede689@btinternet.com
Alternatively you can post a comment in the comments box at the foot of this page and I will forward details of how to make payment ~ PLEASE include your name and the address where you would like the printed copy to be sent + PLUS indicate if it is to be a gift.
Many thanks ~ edenbray
TO Celebrate this occasion I am re-posting all eleven parts – starting today with The Sentinel which has been viewed in nearly 100 countries
Foreward to the Publication
In March 2020 at the recommendation of the British Governments Scientific Health Advisers I entered a period of isolation as a ‘shielding’ measure due to my previous and ongoing health issues and to avoid the threat of Covid-19, a dangerous strain of Coronavirus which attacks the respiratory system, especially of older and susceptible, clinically vulnerable persons. The full total of Covid-related deaths will not become clear for some while but it is already huge on a world-wide scale. This pamphlet of verse and writings came out of that period of isolation.
Most of the writings were composed from notes made during daily, long, walks I made in the fields at the rear of our home in Lincolnshire with either Ruth, my wife or on my own. These writings reflect wider concerns over the pandemic itself, national issues that developed during this period such as BLM but also very real and more personal matters concerning growing old, loneliness, our future – plus mental and physical health worries.
This selection from the poignant ‘This World So Sad’ to the more comedic ‘Predestination’ or ‘the dog’ may at times seem controversial, they contain ‘adult’ words but each of these works is important to me in conveying the true ‘feeling’ of the time and together they hopefully capture the full rainbow of human experience. I hope the reader will catch the humour intended as well as the more serious points of reference.
Thanks for listening edenbray 06.07.2020
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THE SENTINEL
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Hold hard the grey coated sentinel
Who draws his breath upon faint hope
Of prussian nights and eternal lights
The sentinel knows his task is certain, pure
To ride the faithful stallion named ‘Endure’
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To ride through mud and human gore
Around the coast of Britains shore
Through valleys decked blood-red golden
Summer sun bids summer days to lengthen
And face this morbid terror with burnished fist
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Faces of morning joy emerge as though through mist
Children of a new day born through trial & risk
Birth, tempered now by no techno-squalid season
Our commanders, priests & thinkers meet to reason
Count the cost, pray the night, face another day of loss
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This horse, this horse by whose fetlock, hock & hoof
Has stretched each sinew, elbow, flank & cannon
Born its worthy rider forth to carry unfurled banner
Thru streets, the alleys & the moors and on beside the Manor
While proles consort with trolls to cause a minor stammer
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Thus people – do step forward then, to a one, without tremor
This sentinel so adored, while brass coffin handles glimmer
Memories so burned, so broken by the wounded page of time
Some feel more than a brother, some drink more then of wine
The object then of war is lost in laughter’s pain, winters frost
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The mountain birds surround the evening dell, a private hell
To them unfurls, unfolds to these masters of the carrion well
Death always is the final wave to those we love or try to save
Regret, sadness, a feathered cowel for each the bravest brave
I salute you, I adore you in your weakest momento mio amico!
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Button your tunic then O’tired counsellor, leader of our clan
You rode as well as any could & more perhaps than any should
Dismount your steed, attest the greed yet call only heroes fore
To set in tribute store this army to whom we can add no more
The brave, the true, the sure of heart & foot so dressed in blue!
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writtenbyedenbray24.03.2020cv-19
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